Daily Lifestyles and Activities Around the World

Akhona, 15, South Africa
I live with my family in a village near Cape Town. The people in my town are poor, but education is very important for us. I get up at 5 o’clock in the morning because it’s a long journey to my school. My father drops me off at the train station or the bus stop; then I travel into Cape Town. Sometimes the trip takes an hour and a half. I read my book or listen to music on my cell phone. I love my school, but the teachers are very strict and they give us a lot of homework. I like English, but I’m not good at maths. I take the train home at 4 o’clock with my friend Kim. When I get home early, I do chores, such as helping to prepare dinner. Then I watch television with my brother. Sometimes there is no electricity in the evening, so we cannot cook on those days. We have bread with tea for dinner instead of a hot meal. At 9 o’clock, I get into bed, read my book and then sleep.
Radhika, 16, India
I live with my parents, grandad, sister, aunt and cousin in a small city in India. I wake up at 6:15 and I usually have a glass of cold milk and a piece of fruit, or a bowl of cornflakes. At 7:15 I take the bus to school. At school, we do judo, karate and yoga. At 8:30 I have art lessons. It is my favourite subject at school. The weather is very hot here, so my school finishes at two in the aft ernoon. After school, I come home, change my clothes, wash up and take a nap every day. At 4 in the afternoon I go to the library and read books to some children there. I also read books to old people at weekends. At 8 in the evening I watch TV and do my homework. I go to bed at 10 : 30.
Aika, 16, Japan
I live with my parents and sister in Osaka. I wake up at 6 o’clock. At 6:30 I wake up my younger sister, Kai. We watch the news and help my mum make breakfast. At 7:30 I leave with Kai to meet with eight other students in my neighbourhood. We walk to school together. It takes about 25 minutes. School starts at 8:20 and finishes at 3 o’clock. After school, I have a snack at home and play in the yard with Kai and her friends. We also play computer games. I do hom ework, then read or watch TV. Sometimes I help my dad make dinner. At 7 o’clock we eat dinner together. Afterwards, I take a bath and go to bed.