One of those familiar places

Matias was invited to a classmate's birthday party, and so we went to a bowling/laserquest place in Claremont (in Cape Town's Southern Suburbs).

It was one of those places, where you can't tell in which country you are. Like McDonald's and such. They're the same where ever you are. In my travels I've occasionally used places like these to give the kids a break from all the new information of unfamiliar smells, sounds and surroundings.

OK, so the names on the bowling lists weren't anything like Matthew, Ben and John, but instead names like Thembi, Zaziwe and Aryane. And we were the only ones with a boring pinkish beige coloured skin. But other than that, the place could have been in England. There was even an African version of our friend Neil there (Hi Neil) who's laughter was similar, way of talking was similar, and who was as helpful, happy and bubbly as the original Neil. The race was different - and he was a lot shorter - but the feeling we got was almost the same. It felt wonderfully like home. Neil and Clare: please do come for a visit!