Coming to England was about perspective. Mine needed to be changed because it had become so familiar that it was distorted. Experiences shape our perspectives, among other things, and hopefully I will see a fresh perspective of myself, my life and the world at the end of these four months.

I was thinking about perspective, mine included, after talking to the South African I met at the beginning of the week. When we met eachother and he told me he was from South Africa, my natural reaction to that particular place in the world was one of surprise and interest.

Wow. South Africa. I don't know what "Canada" sounds like to someone who has never been there. But to my ears, South Africa is one or the more exotic places I can think of. I'm aware of general South African history and I have a basic understanding of the country and its struggles, appeals and dynamics. However, I've never had the chance to spend any time with someone from the country--someone with first hand experience and a perspective that differs from my own.

The idea of perspective came about when we were walking near midnight from Manchester city centre to Salford--an area I've recieved endless warnings about from family members, locals, people who have been in the area for some time and authorities. It is common knowledge. So as we walked down the street, I wondered how dangerous a "rough" part of town really is.

I think I subscribe to the idea that if you go looking for trouble you will find it. And, if you're asking for trouble you will get it. At the same time, I had a feeling my perception of the danger Manchester/Salford poses was altogether different than the one of the person walking beside me.

At 6'3" and a former rugby player, Shaun obviously makes much more of a presence than I do walking down the street. And to state the obvious (as well as what may be his biggest advantage over me in this situation), he's a guy. Of course his reply to my question about how "rough" Manchester and Salford are was measured by how safe he felt himself, or so I assume.

He mentioned somewhat of a reputation the area has ascertained, like a self-fulfilling prophecy, simply via the mindset people will have about it. He obviously doesn't consider the area a safehaven because he has walked well out of his way several times so that I arrive at Castle Irwell without having to navigate dark streets on my own. But at the same time, the "rough" area of greater Manchester isn't the same place to me that it is to someone from South Africa.

So I asked Shaun what it was like coming from a third world country. The idea of it strikes me because my experience is entirely different. Canada has its own uneven wealth distribution issues, and its own complicated and unjust racial history, and even its own healthcare and national security issues. But Canada is not a third world country by any standards.

What someone like Shaun can tell me about growing up in a place like South Africa is interesting, but what more can he say than that it is a different place than the UK. As a native of South Africa, Shaun will undoubtedly have a different experience than my own, especially considering it was tempered by the fact that he came from a privledged background by South African standards.

Shaun's experience of South Africa and Cape Town is positive. Before the conversation about coming from a third world country he spoke of a laidback culture, the place where mates for life remain and where he would like to retire. He has mentioned body surfing and 4x4ing in places like Botswana.

Holidaying in Botswana--the country I did a group project on in a Grade Ten Social Studies class, of which I can remember tribal warfare, AIDs and extreme poverty--is not an experience I've had. Which leads me to realize of how many experiences I haven't had. How many haven't shaped my perspective of myself, my life or this world. How many different experiences have I had that a South African never has?

If I waited for experience to decide what my perspective would be, I would be waiting for a long time. It now appears so subjective and alterable, so sensitive and reactive to everything else in the world to me, that I realize I cannot award my own or any other perspective with too much importance. It is more like a work in progress, probably forever. Hopefully forever.

Perspectives are like the bananas I bought eight days ago--better when they are fresh.