Race, prejudice and trust.

I live in a clash of cultures, where the influence of the West meets historic Africa.

There is so much segregation here. Sadly, it's not hard to understand why but then I feel the need to smack myself and say that it isn't and that it is not ok. If the English whites aren't talking badly about the Afrikanners then they're talking about the blacks and vise versa, it goes for every group here. There is so much segregation and prejudice it's all very unreal. I try to compare it to the history of segregation in North America but then realize that it is no where near comparable. South Africa is a unique case and there just doesn't seem to be an answer or a solution to the amount of hate against race here at the moment.

I'm finally driving on my own...and now that i'm over driving on the left hand side of the road I'm mainly focused on my safety....are the doors locked?...are the windows rolled up?....is my purse at my feet?...it's so hard not to be judgmental in a city like this...

I've been fortunate to come from a country where I have for the most part felt safe in and didn't need to feel threatened by a gender, race or appearance. I've been lucky to be able to trust the average person....it's obviously different here, you really can't trust a soul. It's scary to think about the possibility that after my time here I may judge someone so harshly by their appearance rather than who they are as a person....but then again, I suppose this is the price you pay when you decide to move to Johannesburg, the world's murder capital.

Until next time...