It’s been a different experience here in the Western Cape. Over the past 2 days I’ve had several political, cultural, and economic discussions with my South African hosts, and it’s been enlightening. They are well educated, well read, and well informed, and their views are very different from my North American ones.

I once had a student from Angola tell me there are 3 Africas: “Arabic Africa,” “Black Africa,” and “White Africa.” Those generalized cultures are roughly demarcated into 3 distinct geographic parts of the continent, but I think most people see it more economically. Cape Town is developed, and many areas offer quality education—similar to what one would expect in the Bay Area, where I grew up. This is drastically different than where I just was in “Black Africa.”

Education, particularly access to it, makes all the difference. My South African hosts and I might have dissimilar viewpoints on some issues, but we can have a conversation about the same set of issues. Quality education for all leads to better economics for all, and will erase these imaginary borders we construct, like the 3 Africas. Besides, we live on the surface of a sphere, not on a map with lines on it.