0:00:03 > 0:00:06Many of us feel like we're stuck in a rut.
0:00:06 > 0:00:10My heart sinks when I think about sitting in front of a screen
0:00:10 > 0:00:11for another 20 years.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13But what if you could experience a world
0:00:13 > 0:00:15which couldn't be further from the one you know?
0:00:15 > 0:00:18There's so much more to life than going to work.
0:00:18 > 0:00:20Imagine being flown across the world...
0:00:21 > 0:00:23..and opening your eyes...
0:00:24 > 0:00:26Wow!
0:00:26 > 0:00:29..to find yourself in someone else's life.
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Good grief!
0:00:30 > 0:00:32I'm certainly outside the M25 now!
0:00:32 > 0:00:34In this series, six Brits...
0:00:34 > 0:00:36Excuse me, do you speak English?
0:00:36 > 0:00:39..will swap places with complete strangers...
0:00:39 > 0:00:41Welcome to your new home.
0:00:41 > 0:00:42..from across the globe.
0:00:42 > 0:00:45I never dreamed to be in a place like this.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47While their opposite numbers...
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Are there any crocodiles in here?
0:00:49 > 0:00:51No.
0:00:51 > 0:00:53..test-drive life in Britain.
0:00:53 > 0:00:54Oh, my gosh!
0:00:54 > 0:00:56Is that Big Ben?
0:00:56 > 0:00:58For seven days...
0:00:58 > 0:00:59It's coming.
0:00:59 > 0:01:01..both will be immersed in a culture
0:01:01 > 0:01:03which is totally different from their own.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05I'm not in Kansas any more, Toto!
0:01:07 > 0:01:10Could walking in someone else's shoes...
0:01:10 > 0:01:11It's been a wake-up call.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14..pave the way to a better life back home?
0:01:14 > 0:01:17I really want to have life just like this.
0:01:17 > 0:01:22What can you learn by seeing your world through a stranger's eyes?
0:01:22 > 0:01:24Hi!
0:01:24 > 0:01:26What would you do if you were me?
0:01:26 > 0:01:30I really don't know what the impact of this is going to be.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40Having family and keeping them happy.
0:01:40 > 0:01:43I think that's the biggest thing in life.
0:01:45 > 0:01:49This time, two men from different sides of the world...
0:01:50 > 0:01:52..have agreed to swap lives.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55I'll take your blindfold off, but just keep your eyes closed, OK?
0:01:55 > 0:01:57Both have to provide for young families.
0:01:57 > 0:01:59Both are at a crossroads.
0:02:01 > 0:02:04One feels trapped by the hustle and bustle of the city.
0:02:04 > 0:02:07I feel I'm just going through the motions.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11I've often thought about escaping to a different way of life.
0:02:12 > 0:02:15The other lives by the most basic means
0:02:15 > 0:02:18in the remote South American rainforest.
0:02:18 > 0:02:22His may be a simple life, but it's far from easy.
0:02:22 > 0:02:24Here it is very difficult to get a job.
0:02:24 > 0:02:26This is a changing world
0:02:26 > 0:02:28and I need to earn money to survive.
0:02:28 > 0:02:31Now they're about to get a window into a world
0:02:31 > 0:02:34which is the complete opposite of their own.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Civil servant John lives in south-east London
0:02:38 > 0:02:41and feels caught up in the rat-race.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43My heart sinks when I think about
0:02:43 > 0:02:46sitting in front of a screen
0:02:46 > 0:02:48for another 15-20 years.
0:02:48 > 0:02:51I'd be a bit disappointed
0:02:51 > 0:02:54if life just continues as it is now.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57John dreams of leaving the nine-to-five behind him.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01I feel restless, as if there's more to life than this.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05I think he needs to experience some sort of shake-up
0:03:05 > 0:03:07or sort of shift that's dramatic,
0:03:07 > 0:03:10and experience something completely new.
0:03:10 > 0:03:12I think this whole adventure
0:03:12 > 0:03:15will wake me up to the possibilities
0:03:15 > 0:03:17of what's out there.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Office worker John is about to swap lives with Lionel,
0:03:22 > 0:03:25a tribesman from Guyana.
0:03:26 > 0:03:30A member of the Macushi tribe, 48-year-old Lionel
0:03:30 > 0:03:32lives on the edge of the North Rupununi Savannah.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36We just live basic,
0:03:36 > 0:03:40by farming, fishing, hunting.
0:03:40 > 0:03:43One of 9,000 Macushi in Guyana,
0:03:43 > 0:03:47Lionel lives as his ancestors have for thousands of years.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50Actually, up to maybe seven years, we were naked.
0:03:50 > 0:03:54That's how we used to live. Very simple - naked.
0:03:54 > 0:03:59The tribe still grow and hunt their own food in order to survive.
0:03:59 > 0:04:00Got him.
0:04:00 > 0:04:03A skilled craftsman, Lionel makes everything his family needs,
0:04:03 > 0:04:07from bows and arrows to fishing rods and baskets.
0:04:07 > 0:04:09But times are changing.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13In the old days, we never knew anything about a dollar or a coin.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16These days, we are changing
0:04:16 > 0:04:20because we are forgetting some of our culture.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24So Lionel needs to find a way to make his way of life pay.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27Now money is playing a bigger role.
0:04:27 > 0:04:28Going to the big city,
0:04:28 > 0:04:31and there might be something that I can bring back here
0:04:31 > 0:04:33and improve my life.
0:04:33 > 0:04:35I think we'll have a better future.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Their adventure begins when they open their eyes.
0:04:43 > 0:04:44Wow!
0:04:45 > 0:04:46Whoa!
0:04:48 > 0:04:49Where am I?
0:04:49 > 0:04:51That's better. I can see it now!
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Gosh, I've never been anywhere like this before!
0:04:56 > 0:04:59I think I'm outside of the M25 now!
0:05:02 > 0:05:05DISTANT SIRENS WAIL
0:05:05 > 0:05:07Oh!
0:05:09 > 0:05:10I never dreamed...
0:05:11 > 0:05:13..to be in a place like this in my life.
0:05:15 > 0:05:17People are all dressed the same.
0:05:17 > 0:05:20White and black, white and black.
0:05:20 > 0:05:22First job for both men -
0:05:22 > 0:05:26find their way to their new home and their new identity.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30Lionel, Surama village,
0:05:30 > 0:05:34North Rupun-er-ini.
0:05:34 > 0:05:35Wow, that's all I've got!
0:05:36 > 0:05:39Their only clue is each other's name and address.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41Oh!
0:05:41 > 0:05:43Brockley, south-east London.
0:05:45 > 0:05:46Where is that?
0:05:48 > 0:05:51This is really exciting!
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Certainly more eventful than the time I got lost in Southwold park.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Good morning, mister.
0:05:58 > 0:06:00Can you please help me?
0:06:00 > 0:06:02- No.- No.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04There are ten times more people in London
0:06:04 > 0:06:07than there are in the whole of Guyana.
0:06:07 > 0:06:09I've no idea where it is, I'm afraid.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12But, so far, Lionel's not having much luck.
0:06:12 > 0:06:16Can you help me get to this individual home?
0:06:17 > 0:06:18No.
0:06:18 > 0:06:20After a string of rejections...
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Hello, Miss Lady.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25..his persistence finally pays off.
0:06:25 > 0:06:27So you want to get on the DLR downstairs.
0:06:27 > 0:06:29- Yeah.- And get it to Shadwell station,
0:06:29 > 0:06:30that's where you want to get off.
0:06:30 > 0:06:34- Thank you.- Good luck. Thanks very much.- Nice meeting you.- Welcome to London.- Thanks for your help.
0:06:35 > 0:06:37In Guyana, John is on the edge
0:06:37 > 0:06:40of 5,000 square miles of untouched plains
0:06:40 > 0:06:43known as the Rupununi Savannah.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45I can't see any cars yet.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Still 85 miles from Lionel's village,
0:06:47 > 0:06:49he's hoping to flag down a lift.
0:06:51 > 0:06:53I can see a buzzard circling...
0:06:54 > 0:06:57..ready to pick my bones when I drop dead!
0:06:57 > 0:06:58HE CHUCKLES
0:07:00 > 0:07:03There are no railways in Guyana.
0:07:03 > 0:07:06Taking a ride on a train is like riding a horse.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09It's like boom, boom.
0:07:11 > 0:07:13- TANNOY:- 'This is Shadwell.'
0:07:13 > 0:07:17So train travel is a new experience for Lionel.
0:07:19 > 0:07:21What should I do?
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Push? Either way.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Oh!
0:07:25 > 0:07:27HE LAUGHS
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Can you help me? What should I...?
0:07:35 > 0:07:37Oh, ooh-ho, ho-ho!
0:07:38 > 0:07:39Oh, no!
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Whereas John couldn't be further from the London rush hour.
0:07:48 > 0:07:50Stop! No. Didn't work.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53Oh, it did. Yes, it worked!
0:07:53 > 0:07:54Lionel's village is so remote
0:07:54 > 0:07:57that even a trip to Guyana's capital, Georgetown,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00means a 12-hour drive down an unpaved road.
0:08:00 > 0:08:01Hello there. Hi.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Are you going to Surama village?
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Surama village. Er... I will drop you at the junction.
0:08:08 > 0:08:09That would be wonderful.
0:08:12 > 0:08:14After 30 years in London,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17John and his wife have been questioning whether city life
0:08:17 > 0:08:18is really for them.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20We've thought about moving out of London
0:08:20 > 0:08:22ever since we've been in London, so...!
0:08:22 > 0:08:26A massive decision that we, as a family, need to make
0:08:26 > 0:08:29is whether or not to stay in London or move away.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31It would be quite a big thing,
0:08:31 > 0:08:34and I'm fearful of going to exile
0:08:34 > 0:08:36and having to start from scratch.
0:08:37 > 0:08:41At last, I think I'm at Brockley,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44and now I'm feeling like I'm close.
0:08:47 > 0:08:50This is Lionel's first time outside South America.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53That's a big machine. Hi, guys.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57That's a useful piece of machine to do some work like that.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01We do everything with a hoe or a pickaxe.
0:09:01 > 0:09:03Manual work.
0:09:03 > 0:09:06Lionel's family rely on him to provide for them,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09but his physically challenging lifestyle
0:09:09 > 0:09:11is not sustainable long-term.
0:09:11 > 0:09:15Lionel is a hard-working man, and he's getting old,
0:09:15 > 0:09:18and he has to find other ways and means
0:09:18 > 0:09:20to earn money for his family.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23If Lionel learns practical skills
0:09:23 > 0:09:25to provide for his family,
0:09:25 > 0:09:27that would be good for him.
0:09:27 > 0:09:29He hopes that seeing how the Western world works
0:09:29 > 0:09:32could pave the way for a better future back home.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34Development changes everything,
0:09:34 > 0:09:38and if you're not ready for whatever is coming towards you,
0:09:38 > 0:09:39he's going to be at loss.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43After a two-hour drive,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46John has arrived in the ancient tribal village of Surama,
0:09:46 > 0:09:48on the edge of the Amazon rainforest...
0:09:49 > 0:09:51OK, bye.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54..home to around 300 people and one tapir.
0:09:57 > 0:09:58Wow, what a great nose.
0:09:59 > 0:10:01Sorry to disturb you, I know you're busy,
0:10:01 > 0:10:04but do you know Lionel by any chance?
0:10:04 > 0:10:06HE LAUGHS
0:10:08 > 0:10:11After a journey of thousands of miles...
0:10:11 > 0:10:12HE KNOCKS AT DOOR
0:10:12 > 0:10:16..both men get a chance to meet their new families.
0:10:16 > 0:10:17Hello there. Good evening.
0:10:17 > 0:10:20- Hello, I'm Rachel.- Hello!
0:10:20 > 0:10:23- Welcome to Surama. - Great to meet you. Thank you.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- Hello. Great to meet you. - Welcome to Surama.- Thank you.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30For the next week, John will be living with Lionel's wife, Sylvia,
0:10:30 > 0:10:32and their seven children.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34This is Lionel's family.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Wow. Lovely to meet you all.
0:10:37 > 0:10:39I feel like I'm at a wedding.
0:10:39 > 0:10:41OK, John, let's have a seat.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42Thank you. I need a sit-down.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45So, what do you do for a living?
0:10:45 > 0:10:47Well, we do simple things, like...
0:10:47 > 0:10:50- For living, we do, like, fishing, hunting and farming...- Whoa.
0:10:50 > 0:10:52..and we're living in the community.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54That sounds very different from my life.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57While in London, Lionel will live with John's wife, Rachel,
0:10:57 > 0:11:00and their two kids, Evie and Elijah.
0:11:00 > 0:11:03I'm dying to ask, where have you travelled from?
0:11:03 > 0:11:06Actually I come from Guyana,
0:11:06 > 0:11:09- in a small village...- Uh-huh. - ..in the forest.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11- Oh, wow!- Or in the jungle.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14- Is that where Daddy is?- Yes.
0:11:14 > 0:11:17So, what does your dad do for a living?
0:11:17 > 0:11:21He's mainly on the computer and goes into his office.
0:11:21 > 0:11:23He's called a civil servant.
0:11:23 > 0:11:24Oh, OK, OK. Uh-huh.
0:11:26 > 0:11:31'It's really wonderful being at John's home.'
0:11:31 > 0:11:34Mmm! Not too bad.
0:11:34 > 0:11:37I'm looking forward to learning more about London
0:11:37 > 0:11:39and the way people live
0:11:39 > 0:11:42and their culture.
0:11:44 > 0:11:46- Here's your room here. - Right, thank you.
0:11:46 > 0:11:47Here's your hammock.
0:11:47 > 0:11:48'I'm not quite sure
0:11:48 > 0:11:51'about how I'm going to step into Lionel's shoes...'
0:11:51 > 0:11:52Whoa!
0:11:52 > 0:11:57'..because I don't quite know exactly what's expected of me yet.'
0:11:57 > 0:11:59But I'm going to give it all my best shot.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09Being here, it's like a big tsunami has come in
0:12:09 > 0:12:12and I've been left on the beach somehow.
0:12:17 > 0:12:20I woke up at two o'clock in the morning, and everything was like,
0:12:20 > 0:12:24"Oh, what should I do?" And then I put extra head pieces
0:12:24 > 0:12:29and get a towel and just put it here just to keep myself warm.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32- CAMERA PERSON:- But you didn't sleep under your duvet.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34I didn't understand that first of all.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37I was just looking at it - "Should I get under here?"
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Then I think, "It'll make little difference,"
0:12:39 > 0:12:41so I just keep on top.
0:12:43 > 0:12:48In Guyana, temperatures are around 30 degrees all year round,
0:12:48 > 0:12:51and John is enjoying a warmer start to the day.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53Where can I have a wash, kids?
0:12:53 > 0:12:56The villagers in Surama live in simple houses,
0:12:56 > 0:13:00many without gas, electricity or running water.
0:13:00 > 0:13:02I'm not really used to wandering around outside
0:13:02 > 0:13:07just in underpants, but, you know, everybody seems OK with that.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Oh, wow! What do we have here?
0:13:10 > 0:13:12It's the first time in my life
0:13:12 > 0:13:15I've actually drawn water from out of a well.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24Yay, water to wash in! Wonderful.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27- Now you can have your shower. - Right. I draw the shower curtain.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30JOHN LAUGHS
0:13:30 > 0:13:31I'm wet already, so...
0:13:33 > 0:13:36HE SQUEALS
0:13:36 > 0:13:38# La-la-la-la-la. #
0:13:38 > 0:13:40HE HUMS A TUNE
0:13:40 > 0:13:44As experiences go, I'm quite enjoying it.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47I think I'll just tip this bucket up and over.
0:13:49 > 0:13:50Whoa!
0:13:52 > 0:13:53That was good!
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Having familiarised himself with the shower facilities,
0:13:59 > 0:14:02John takes a tour of the hut where Lionel and Sylvia live
0:14:02 > 0:14:04with their seven children.
0:14:04 > 0:14:08And this is Victoria's bed and Victoria sleeps over here.
0:14:08 > 0:14:09OK, yes.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13- And this is my bed, where I sleep, and that's Paul's bed.- Yeah.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16That's Don's bed and this is my mother's bed.
0:14:16 > 0:14:19- Where are your toys, Jesse? - I don't have any toys.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22- You don't have any toys?- No.- Wow.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25So for you, your toys are the trees to climb
0:14:25 > 0:14:26and the grass to run on,
0:14:26 > 0:14:29and you've got a great playground out there.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33And that might be Lionel.
0:14:33 > 0:14:35I think I might have found a picture of Lionel there.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38Lionel looks of a similar age to me.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41His hair's receding, just like mine, mine's disappearing,
0:14:41 > 0:14:45slowly but surely going further back. So, yeah.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47He looks a wise man.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50- That's your dad?- Yeah.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55He seems fat and short.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00Lionel usually spends his days hunting for food.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03Today, he'll spend it in an office -
0:15:03 > 0:15:07something John's been doing for the last three decades.
0:15:07 > 0:15:09This bit might be a little puzzling
0:15:09 > 0:15:11because I don't know how people use this.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14But, first, he'll have to dress for the occasion.
0:15:14 > 0:15:16- Sorry, Rachel.- Oh, yeah.
0:15:18 > 0:15:20Oh, the tie!
0:15:20 > 0:15:21Yeah.
0:15:22 > 0:15:24'You see someone putting on long-sleeved shirts
0:15:24 > 0:15:26'and black jackets, that means
0:15:26 > 0:15:28'you're going to do some important job.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31'And we, at home, we don't dress like this, because, you know,
0:15:31 > 0:15:34'at the end of the work you're going to be all dirty.'
0:15:34 > 0:15:36A little bit big!
0:15:36 > 0:15:38It's too big for you.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46Suited and booted - next stop for Lionel, the morning commute.
0:15:46 > 0:15:48I was given a card.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52I don't know if it's going to work, but I'm going to give it a go.
0:15:54 > 0:15:57- Sorry.- Wrong way.
0:15:57 > 0:15:58Oh!
0:15:58 > 0:16:00All right, all right.
0:16:00 > 0:16:044.8 million people use the Tube every day.
0:16:04 > 0:16:08You could fit Lionel's entire village into just four carriages.
0:16:08 > 0:16:11This big thing here looks like a coral snake,
0:16:11 > 0:16:14all the white and red colours,
0:16:14 > 0:16:16very, very long.
0:16:16 > 0:16:17Unbelievable.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25- MOBILE PHONE:- Turn right on to Aldersgate Street.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27After a 30-minute Tube journey,
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Lionel has made it to central London.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31Where I am is confusing me.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Even though I am in the middle of thousands of people, I can be lost.
0:16:35 > 0:16:37Used to life in a real jungle,
0:16:37 > 0:16:41finding his way in a concrete one is proving a challenge.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44- MOBILE PHONE:- Take the first exit on to Montague Street.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49In the jungle we navigate by looking at the sun.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52But here, in a big city, it is very, very strange,
0:16:52 > 0:16:56because I'm not accustomed to looking at a phone
0:16:56 > 0:16:58and I'm following the map.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00Oh! Where am I going?
0:17:04 > 0:17:07Is this the rainforest we're going into?
0:17:07 > 0:17:09- Yeah.- Brilliant!
0:17:09 > 0:17:13About 70% of Guyana is made up of rainforest.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16It's been providing the Amerindian tribes who live here
0:17:16 > 0:17:19with food and shelter for thousands of years.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Have you seen Jurassic Park?
0:17:21 > 0:17:23Instead of earning money to survive,
0:17:23 > 0:17:26people like Lionel's brother Hendricks and friend Sparrow
0:17:26 > 0:17:28hunt for their family's food.
0:17:28 > 0:17:32Now civil servant John is joining them on their regular fishing trip
0:17:32 > 0:17:35to the Burro-Burro River, in the Iwokrama rainforest.
0:17:37 > 0:17:39Whee! That was good!
0:17:47 > 0:17:50I never thought I'd come to the Amazon rainforest,
0:17:50 > 0:17:52so this is a dream come true.
0:17:52 > 0:17:54It is incredible.
0:17:54 > 0:17:57It's like, when you sneeze here, it's really weird
0:17:57 > 0:18:01because it's just clean fluid, it's not normal.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Whereas in London, when I sneeze,
0:18:03 > 0:18:06it's normal, it's black bits and little bits of blood,
0:18:06 > 0:18:08and that's what I'm used to.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10So there's no pollution here at all.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12It's really making me think,
0:18:12 > 0:18:14"What does it do to my children
0:18:14 > 0:18:17"to grow up in all the pollution of London?"
0:18:18 > 0:18:22After a four-hour boat journey, John, Hendricks and Sparrow
0:18:22 > 0:18:25finally reach their destination.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28Home, sweet home! I'm quite hungry.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30Can we go fishing first?
0:18:30 > 0:18:33We have to build our camp first before dark, you know?
0:18:33 > 0:18:35This is jungle.
0:18:35 > 0:18:37JOHN GROANS Come on!
0:18:37 > 0:18:40Come on, John.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42Here I'm well out of my comfort zone.
0:18:42 > 0:18:44I'm well out of the nine-to-five.
0:18:44 > 0:18:47This ain't no city, it's the jungle.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51Oh, wow. So you're stripping the bark off the tree.
0:18:51 > 0:18:52Yeah, bark off the tree.
0:18:52 > 0:18:54And then that's your string.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00It's amazing how they use the jungle here,
0:19:00 > 0:19:02because everything's coming in handy.
0:19:02 > 0:19:04This is bark off a tree.
0:19:04 > 0:19:07That's incredible.
0:19:07 > 0:19:08Oh!
0:19:08 > 0:19:09Oh, dear.
0:19:09 > 0:19:11In this harsh environment,
0:19:11 > 0:19:14John is struggling to find something he can contribute.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Well, this isn't working very well, is it?
0:19:22 > 0:19:24Oh, dear, I just broke it again.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Well, I'm feeling a bit helpless.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32It really makes me think about the fact that people here
0:19:32 > 0:19:35have to go through all this just to get food.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37It's just I've never been wonderfully practical,
0:19:37 > 0:19:41and to be a man out here you have to be practical.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45I'd really like to be able to prove myself as man,
0:19:45 > 0:19:48if you like, prove that I'm worth something.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54OK. Thank you very much.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56Right now I'm feeling a real numpty.
0:19:59 > 0:20:01Boof!
0:20:04 > 0:20:05- MOBILE PHONE:- 'You have arrived.'
0:20:05 > 0:20:07You have arrived.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10In London, Lionel's come to meet a friend of John's
0:20:10 > 0:20:13who's going to show him office life.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- Hi, Lionel.- Good morning. - Good morning. I'm Hugh.- I'm Lionel.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18- OK.- Come this way.
0:20:18 > 0:20:20Lionel's village has no mains power
0:20:20 > 0:20:25and, although one nearby hut does use a generator to power a computer,
0:20:25 > 0:20:27Lionel's never used it.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29So, Lionel, this is our office.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32I know very little about technology,
0:20:32 > 0:20:36and if there is any opportunity that I can learn about technology,
0:20:36 > 0:20:39I'll be glad to do that.
0:20:39 > 0:20:40- This is very exciting.- Yeah.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43So these are my e-mails at the moment.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45What is an e-mail, actually?
0:20:45 > 0:20:47It's a bit like a letter.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49- Would you like to have a go? - Yes, yes. Why not?
0:20:49 > 0:20:51Let's start a new message.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54I'll write in the name of who we're going to send it to.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56It's going to be to Toby.
0:20:56 > 0:20:58Why don't you put in, "Hello, Toby"?
0:20:58 > 0:21:00I'll be back in a little bit.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Oh, no! What am I going to do here now? All right.
0:21:08 > 0:21:09HE CLEARS HIS THROAT
0:21:12 > 0:21:15Lionel's unlikely to ever have a desk job.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19But as technology becomes more accessible in Guyana,
0:21:19 > 0:21:23basic computer skills could help him in the future...
0:21:23 > 0:21:28This is my first time trying to put my finger on a computer and...
0:21:29 > 0:21:31..it's very hard.
0:21:33 > 0:21:38..but at the moment, it's completely alien to huntsman Lionel.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42Being in an office like this is, like, you're not seeing anything
0:21:42 > 0:21:45other than lights and walls and computers
0:21:45 > 0:21:48and people moving around.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54I come from the forest and I miss it, yeah.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57Hi, Lionel. How are you getting on?
0:21:57 > 0:21:59- Very slow.- OK.
0:21:59 > 0:22:01And then you click on this button here,
0:22:01 > 0:22:03and you've sent your first e-mail.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06- This is very good.- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:22:06 > 0:22:08This little writing that you did is...
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Now I understand what the computer can be
0:22:11 > 0:22:14a very good piece of equipment.
0:22:14 > 0:22:16And maybe one day, who knows,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18I will have one of these.
0:22:23 > 0:22:27E-mailing mastered, Lionel takes a well-earned break.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30Tastes like a very old, dead fish.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32This morning has given him a glimpse
0:22:32 > 0:22:36into how people provide for their families in the Western world.
0:22:36 > 0:22:38If I was to work like John
0:22:38 > 0:22:41I don't think I would make it,
0:22:41 > 0:22:45because even though it looks simple, I know it's hard.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Especially if you was not born in a technology world,
0:22:48 > 0:22:50it's very confusing.
0:22:50 > 0:22:51Very, very confusing.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58In the depths of the rainforest...
0:22:58 > 0:23:02- Look, snake, John.- Snake! Oh, wow.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06..John is getting a window into Lionel's way of life.
0:23:06 > 0:23:10It all seems a bit more foreboding at night,
0:23:10 > 0:23:11a bit more scary.
0:23:13 > 0:23:15When out hunting for meat and fish,
0:23:15 > 0:23:18the Macushi's working day can begin before dawn
0:23:18 > 0:23:21and go on late into the night.
0:23:21 > 0:23:23Right now they're on the hunt for catfish,
0:23:23 > 0:23:26which are more active and easier to catch when it's cooler.
0:23:30 > 0:23:34John needs a good haul if he's to provide for his new family.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Each of the two or three fishing trips a week
0:23:38 > 0:23:42needs to provide at least 20 fish.
0:23:42 > 0:23:45Yeah, it must be quite difficult for Lionel with so many kids.
0:23:45 > 0:23:47Seven kids. Wow!
0:23:47 > 0:23:51He must be under tremendous pressure to bring home fish for his family.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54Yeah, this is real hard work, you know? This is a man's work.
0:23:56 > 0:23:58Whoa, look at that!
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Well done, Sparrow. That is incredible.
0:24:00 > 0:24:04The jungle's newest breadwinner has been up for over 16 hours
0:24:04 > 0:24:06and is yet to eat a thing.
0:24:07 > 0:24:08Oh, no.
0:24:08 > 0:24:10I caught a leaf!
0:24:11 > 0:24:15If I had to do this two or three times a week,
0:24:15 > 0:24:16I'd really struggle.
0:24:17 > 0:24:18Come on, fish! Where are you?
0:24:19 > 0:24:22It makes me think my life is very, very easy indeed,
0:24:22 > 0:24:26and I take a lot of things for granted.
0:24:26 > 0:24:29I've got a bite, lads. I've got a bite. Don't panic.
0:24:30 > 0:24:33I can feel it tugging.
0:24:33 > 0:24:34I think I've got something.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35Look, look, you've got it.
0:24:35 > 0:24:38Pull it up in the boat. In the boat, John.
0:24:38 > 0:24:40In the boat. Yes!
0:24:40 > 0:24:41Hooray!
0:24:41 > 0:24:44I got ya!
0:24:46 > 0:24:49It's a great feeling, isn't it, catching a fish like that?
0:24:49 > 0:24:52And to think we can take it back now to Sylvia and the kids.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- Yeah!- And have something to eat. It's wonderful.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58- So, does this make me a man now? - Yes, yes.- Yeah?
0:24:58 > 0:25:00That's awesome.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02How's your fish doing?
0:25:02 > 0:25:04- Dead.- Dead!
0:25:04 > 0:25:06JOHN LAUGHS
0:25:09 > 0:25:11They've only caught two fish,
0:25:11 > 0:25:12but must return to camp and smoke them
0:25:12 > 0:25:15so they don't spoil on the journey home.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19- How long will it take to cook?- Three hours.
0:25:19 > 0:25:20- Three hours?!- Yeah.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23It's a hard life in the jungle, isn't it?
0:25:23 > 0:25:24- Nothing's easy.- Yeah.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27They must save these fish in order to feed the family.
0:25:27 > 0:25:30So, tonight, they'll be going hungry.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33There's one way that shows if you love your family,
0:25:33 > 0:25:36and you have to sacrifice for them, you know?
0:25:36 > 0:25:38But at least I can go to sleep satisfied
0:25:38 > 0:25:41that I've provided for them.
0:25:48 > 0:25:50Technology may have proved tricky,
0:25:50 > 0:25:52but Lionel wants to look for other ways
0:25:52 > 0:25:56that the modern world could help him make some money back home.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59Hello, Rachel.
0:25:59 > 0:26:00Hello.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02- What are you doing?- Hi.
0:26:02 > 0:26:04- I'm doing, erm, welding.- Oh!
0:26:04 > 0:26:07Rachel is an artist and trained welder
0:26:07 > 0:26:09and is showing him some of her work.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11So this is one way that I use
0:26:11 > 0:26:14to join two pieces of metal together.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16- Sounds very useful.- Yeah.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21Back home, Lionel relies on basic hand tools to survive,
0:26:21 > 0:26:24but working in the unforgiving landscape of Surama
0:26:24 > 0:26:26means they rarely last long.
0:26:26 > 0:26:29A skill like welding could be a lifeline.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31We have things that are broken and we cannot fix it.
0:26:31 > 0:26:34You know, it's a lot of money to send things
0:26:34 > 0:26:37and getting it fixed, and if I can learn about it,
0:26:37 > 0:26:40I could weld up all the broken tools.
0:26:40 > 0:26:42It is something you could make a living off.
0:26:42 > 0:26:47It is exciting to be showing you a technique that's new
0:26:47 > 0:26:49that you may be able to make use of,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53because this type of welding doesn't require any electricity.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56- Oh, OK. Just the gas? - It's the gas.- OK.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59So it's something that's doable without electricity.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05This technique may be simple by Western standards,
0:27:05 > 0:27:08but it's still beyond the reach of rural Guyana.
0:27:08 > 0:27:13Even though it is a simple thing to, besides electricity,
0:27:13 > 0:27:16we don't even have that type of gas in Guyana.
0:27:16 > 0:27:19Welding is not the answer for Lionel.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22I really thank you for showing me what you do
0:27:22 > 0:27:24and I'm really impressed about it.
0:27:24 > 0:27:26- Oh, thank you.- Yeah, it's nice.
0:27:26 > 0:27:28But his time with Rachel has inspired him
0:27:28 > 0:27:33to look for ways to monetise his practical skills as a craftsman.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36'What I have learned here is a big thing for me.'
0:27:47 > 0:27:51John and Hendricks arrive back in Surama with their catch.
0:27:51 > 0:27:52Home sweet home.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55Home sweet home. Right!
0:27:55 > 0:27:57On average, they'd expect to bring home
0:27:57 > 0:28:00anything between 20 and 100 fish per trip.
0:28:02 > 0:28:04But John only has two.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07- Hi, good afternoon. - Hi, Sylvia. Hello.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09We went hunting
0:28:09 > 0:28:11and we caught two fish.
0:28:13 > 0:28:16Is that all right? Is that good?
0:28:20 > 0:28:23At least you tried. You tried very hard.
0:28:23 > 0:28:24I did. I did my best.
0:28:24 > 0:28:27It did make me realise...
0:28:27 > 0:28:30what people have to do just to survive here.
0:28:30 > 0:28:33And that is why I said our life is very hard.
0:28:33 > 0:28:36We have... In a way that sometimes we get,
0:28:36 > 0:28:40sometimes we don't get for us to eat enough.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45Sylvia thought it was good that I'd caught a fish
0:28:45 > 0:28:48but she wasn't really all that impressed.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52I think if I'd been Lionel, she would have sent me back out again
0:28:52 > 0:28:54on another hunting trip.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58If you want to be man, you have to fish, you have to hunt,
0:28:58 > 0:29:01you have to bring everything for the family.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03There's little ants on it. Do they matter?
0:29:03 > 0:29:05Do they just add flavour, the ants?
0:29:08 > 0:29:09John made himself a man.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12He bring home a fish for the family.
0:29:13 > 0:29:15For his kids to eat.
0:29:17 > 0:29:19During the whole rainforest experience
0:29:19 > 0:29:23I didn't have anything to eat, so I was really starving-hungry -
0:29:23 > 0:29:27hungrier than probably I've ever been in my life before.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29So it helped me to understand
0:29:29 > 0:29:32that life is bloody hard out here.
0:29:44 > 0:29:49In the UK, Lionel's taking a break from the city...
0:29:49 > 0:29:50Here we are, here we are.
0:29:50 > 0:29:52..to experience life in the country
0:29:52 > 0:29:54with Rachel and the children.
0:29:54 > 0:29:59- Being in a big city and then coming out to the countryside...- Yeah.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01..it makes me feel like I'm at home.
0:30:01 > 0:30:04They're heading to Scotland, home to Rachel's parents.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07The family have discussed moving here.
0:30:07 > 0:30:09What do you think about your parents moving?
0:30:09 > 0:30:14I think Mummy would be OK with it, to be honest,
0:30:14 > 0:30:17because I think you already really kind of want to move up there.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20But I don't think it's good for Daddy,
0:30:20 > 0:30:22because he's going to have to work from home
0:30:22 > 0:30:25and he's not going to have a good job.
0:30:25 > 0:30:26How do you know?
0:30:27 > 0:30:30Because he was always complaining about it.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37After failing to catch enough fish for the family,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40Hendricks wants to show John how the Macushi help those in need.
0:30:42 > 0:30:44Here, you can see a structure there,
0:30:44 > 0:30:45up there, that Lionel has built.
0:30:45 > 0:30:47We need to finish this for him.
0:30:47 > 0:30:49That sounds like hard work.
0:30:49 > 0:30:52Whenever there's a job too big for one family,
0:30:52 > 0:30:54help is always at hand.
0:30:58 > 0:30:59Wow!
0:31:01 > 0:31:05One of our traditions is...
0:31:05 > 0:31:09- Yes.- It's people coming together to help one and other.
0:31:09 > 0:31:12- That's really good. - Yeah, people working together.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15We haven't got a word for that kind of thing in England.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17This old tradition in Lionel's tribe,
0:31:17 > 0:31:21is one of the ways the community helps support each other
0:31:21 > 0:31:22through hard times.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25It's a great concept for having everybody coming together
0:31:25 > 0:31:28and working hard and getting things done.
0:31:30 > 0:31:31There you go, Francis.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36I wish I had a group of men coming around my house to help!
0:31:40 > 0:31:44I think in London we've really lost community,
0:31:44 > 0:31:46because we're all so busy.
0:31:46 > 0:31:49And here they have a great community,
0:31:49 > 0:31:51the people pull together.
0:31:51 > 0:31:56There's a closeness that I've never really felt in London at all.
0:31:56 > 0:31:59This must be an important tradition for you?
0:31:59 > 0:32:02Yes, of course, it is important tradition for me,
0:32:02 > 0:32:04and I will never like it to be lost.
0:32:04 > 0:32:05I'll never lose it, you know?
0:32:05 > 0:32:07- Yeah.- I don't want to lose it.
0:32:07 > 0:32:10Oh, wow! There's a great spider over here.
0:32:10 > 0:32:13Wow, look at him. Gosh.
0:32:13 > 0:32:16Hendricks, what kind of spider is this?
0:32:16 > 0:32:20- Tarantula.- It's a tarantula?! - Yeah!
0:32:20 > 0:32:23Oh, OK, right, that's groovy. Will that one bite then?
0:32:23 > 0:32:24- Yeah. Bite.- It'll bite?
0:32:24 > 0:32:26- All spiders bite.- Right.
0:32:26 > 0:32:29I'll steer clear of spiders then.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32It was a close encounter of the spidery kind.
0:32:32 > 0:32:34- Come on, John. Grab.- And is this...?
0:32:34 > 0:32:37- "Come on, John. Do some work!"- Yeah.
0:32:40 > 0:32:43It's hard physical work, but the Macushi way of life
0:32:43 > 0:32:46has awoken something in John.
0:32:46 > 0:32:49Helping out here today does make me feel
0:32:49 > 0:32:52more of a valued member of the community.
0:32:52 > 0:32:54'It's a bit of a watershed moment.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57'I'd love to be part of something like this back home
0:32:57 > 0:32:59'where people pull together.
0:32:59 > 0:33:02'Or, whatever it is, just have people more involved
0:33:02 > 0:33:04'with other people's lives.'
0:33:04 > 0:33:07I think we're really missing something.
0:33:11 > 0:33:15After a five-hour journey, Lionel has left the city far behind.
0:33:18 > 0:33:21- Welcome to Scotland!- Oh, thank you!
0:33:21 > 0:33:25They've arrived in Duns, on the Scottish border.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27With its sprawling mountains,
0:33:27 > 0:33:29luscious forests and untouched coastline,
0:33:29 > 0:33:33Scotland boasts some of the most extraordinary countryside in the UK.
0:33:34 > 0:33:37But it's 30 degrees colder than Lionel is used to.
0:33:39 > 0:33:40Oh!
0:33:40 > 0:33:42Look at this.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45What is that? This is frozen,
0:33:45 > 0:33:49which makes you feel very, very cold.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52This is first time I'm seeing something like this.
0:33:52 > 0:33:56Look at this! This looks like glass.
0:33:56 > 0:33:59I can't really imagine not seeing it.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03It may be cold outside, but Lionel is given a warm welcome
0:34:03 > 0:34:05by Rachel's parents, Ken and Carol.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10Would Lionel like to taste some Scottish shortbread?
0:34:10 > 0:34:13- Yes. Look, you've got to try... - It's a speciality of Scotland.
0:34:13 > 0:34:15OK. Let me have a go!
0:34:18 > 0:34:20Quite nice?
0:34:20 > 0:34:21Tastes like milk.
0:34:21 > 0:34:23- Butter.- Butter.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27Very delicious and I love it.
0:34:27 > 0:34:31Lionel wants to find out more about what rural life is like in the UK.
0:34:31 > 0:34:37Rachel was talking about moving from London here,
0:34:37 > 0:34:41and the kids are very keen of moving.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43We've been trying to persuade Rachel and John
0:34:43 > 0:34:46to move up with the children for several years
0:34:46 > 0:34:48because we think it's...
0:34:48 > 0:34:51It's a lovely environment for the children.
0:34:51 > 0:34:54I think in a place like Duns, you've got a local community,
0:34:54 > 0:34:56- people recognise one and other.- Yes.
0:34:56 > 0:34:58Strangers will say hello to each other here.
0:34:58 > 0:35:02Whereas, in London, it's impossible to do that.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05But coming from a poor, rural community,
0:35:05 > 0:35:07Lionel understands what the family would be giving up
0:35:07 > 0:35:10by leaving the city.
0:35:10 > 0:35:13John's job, it's a good job.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16If they decide to move here it will be a little puzzling
0:35:16 > 0:35:20to John to find a job and settle again.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24I understand that. I mean, he's fortunate to have a job
0:35:24 > 0:35:27that probably is fairly secure.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30So therefore you justify remaining.
0:35:34 > 0:35:37'I think the biggest problem in moving to Scotland
0:35:37 > 0:35:42'I think is a financial problem, because John has a wonderful job.'
0:35:42 > 0:35:43'It seems like if they move
0:35:43 > 0:35:48'from where they have already rooted themselves, come to a new area,
0:35:48 > 0:35:52'maybe they would trouble for the first couple of months
0:35:52 > 0:35:54'to get a job or settle in properly'
0:35:54 > 0:35:56and, erm...
0:35:58 > 0:36:00..I don't know how to advise him.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05THEY SING IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:36:09 > 0:36:10After finishing their work on the hut,
0:36:10 > 0:36:13the villagers have come together to celebrate
0:36:13 > 0:36:15with some traditional dancing.
0:36:15 > 0:36:17I have to go and join them?
0:36:17 > 0:36:19With pleasure!
0:36:19 > 0:36:23THEY SING IN OWN LANGUAGE
0:36:25 > 0:36:28'I'm starting to slowly realise
0:36:28 > 0:36:30'why I've been dropped here,
0:36:30 > 0:36:32'of all places on the planet.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35'Because, in Surama Village,
0:36:35 > 0:36:39'I've seen a real tribal community in action.
0:36:39 > 0:36:43'Perhaps why I feel I need to move to the countryside
0:36:43 > 0:36:47'is because I think there's a lack of community,
0:36:47 > 0:36:50'and that's been eroded in London.'
0:36:50 > 0:36:53THEY CHEER
0:36:57 > 0:37:00But John's realised that the thing he's been missing
0:37:00 > 0:37:03is something he can help to create, regardless of location.
0:37:03 > 0:37:06I think I've found a community here.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08Quite an amazing community
0:37:08 > 0:37:11that lives a very, very hard life,
0:37:11 > 0:37:13but they have a great sense of who they are,
0:37:13 > 0:37:17a great sense of cultural identity.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21Perhaps I've been far too passive in my life.
0:37:21 > 0:37:24I'd like to try and be more proactive in reaching out to others
0:37:24 > 0:37:30and to try and create community like it back home,
0:37:30 > 0:37:33wherever home becomes for me.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37To really share life together and be alive together,
0:37:37 > 0:37:41rather than walking through life quite isolated.
0:37:47 > 0:37:51Above my head is a big clock, which is famous, I think.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53Both men have now spent several days
0:37:53 > 0:37:55in each other's worlds.
0:37:55 > 0:37:56I'm going to bid for the chicken
0:37:56 > 0:37:59and provide some meat for the family.
0:37:59 > 0:38:00The Amazon rainforest,
0:38:00 > 0:38:03it's as extreme as you can get on the planet,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06but it's helping me to shape my thoughts.
0:38:09 > 0:38:12Being in London is absolutely unbelievable.
0:38:12 > 0:38:16I can see people who live in cities,
0:38:16 > 0:38:18how hard they work, because of money,
0:38:18 > 0:38:21but I think, the way I live, I love it.
0:38:21 > 0:38:26Our movies, our traffic, is songs of wildlife.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29Here is concrete jungle, but there it's real jungle.
0:38:31 > 0:38:34- 1,500.- 1,500.
0:38:36 > 0:38:371,600.
0:38:37 > 0:38:39Who is that back there?!
0:38:40 > 0:38:43'Being here has certainly woken me up,
0:38:43 > 0:38:45'because life here is really tough.
0:38:45 > 0:38:50'So, when I get back, I'm not going to take things for granted at all.'
0:38:50 > 0:38:52A shower, the supermarkets...
0:38:52 > 0:38:54I'm going to love it.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57It's going to astound me for the first few weeks, I think.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01Amerindian people really don't think that far
0:39:01 > 0:39:03about big changes in their life.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Once they know that they're living peaceful, happy and simple,
0:39:07 > 0:39:09I think that's the main goal.
0:39:09 > 0:39:121,800. Gone.
0:39:12 > 0:39:13Hurray!
0:39:14 > 0:39:18I love the clean air and the openness around me,
0:39:18 > 0:39:22and I feel more connected to the planet
0:39:22 > 0:39:24and life and nature.
0:39:26 > 0:39:29I'm going to call my chicken Lionel, if that's all right?
0:39:29 > 0:39:32Is that OK? Hello, Lionel. How you doing?
0:39:32 > 0:39:34Are you doing all right?
0:39:34 > 0:39:35CHICKEN CLUCKS
0:39:38 > 0:39:42- Hello.- Hi, Sylvia.- Hi. - I've got a present for you.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45John's hoping that the chicken
0:39:45 > 0:39:48will help to make up for his failures on the fish front.
0:39:48 > 0:39:51- I hope you don't mind, but I've called it Lionel.- OK!
0:39:53 > 0:39:56- All right?! - Thank you very much, John.
0:39:56 > 0:39:57That's all right.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00'I was determined to bid for that chicken,
0:40:00 > 0:40:02'and I managed to get it, which was great,
0:40:02 > 0:40:05'because then I was able to bring home some meat,
0:40:05 > 0:40:08'because I only caught two fish and that was it.'
0:40:08 > 0:40:11Oh, look, Lionel's making friends over there. That's good.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14And in this part of the world,
0:40:14 > 0:40:18a man isn't really a man unless he brings home some meat.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20So I was pleased about that.
0:40:31 > 0:40:32Since being in London,
0:40:32 > 0:40:36Lionel has been searching for a way he can make money back home.
0:40:36 > 0:40:38Although welding wasn't achievable,
0:40:38 > 0:40:41there's a clear need for tool-making and repair in Surama.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44- Hello.- Hello. You must be Lionel.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47- Yeah, I'm Lionel. - Nice to meet you.- Nice to see you.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50So, today he's come to see a traditional blacksmith.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54What we thought we'd do would be to make an axe.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56OK. OK, that would be nice.
0:40:56 > 0:40:57Once you know how to make an axe,
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- you can make whatever tool you need on the end.- Yes, OK.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04We've got this piece of 25mm rebar.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07- It'll be quite good tool-making material.- OK.
0:41:07 > 0:41:10- OK.- Let's pop this in.- OK.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12And we'll just wait for that to start warming up.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17Blacksmithing has been practised in Britain for over 2,000 years
0:41:17 > 0:41:20and the technique has barely changed.
0:41:20 > 0:41:24All you need is a hot enough fire and some brute strength.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27I'm going to come in and strike the first blow.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31- OK.- So I go one, then you go, hit it in the same place.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33- All right.- Just like that.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37That's it.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41Being able to work with metal could change the way that Lionel lives,
0:41:41 > 0:41:44as tools such as axes and hoes
0:41:44 > 0:41:47currently have to be purchased outside the village.
0:41:47 > 0:41:51So, Lionel, what's so important about being able to make tools?
0:41:51 > 0:41:55Actually, way back home we don't have so many tools,
0:41:55 > 0:42:00and so what happens, every now and then some of these tools broke,
0:42:00 > 0:42:03but learning from you,
0:42:03 > 0:42:07I may have an idea how we can mend it up
0:42:07 > 0:42:11so that I would be more productive in farming.
0:42:11 > 0:42:16So, this will be a very, very important lesson for me.
0:42:16 > 0:42:22OK. Cool. So, on the axe, on the front, we have the blade.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25- OK.- On the back, what would you like?
0:42:25 > 0:42:29What about if you make, like, a pickaxe edge, a sharp...?
0:42:29 > 0:42:31- Like a spike?- Yes.
0:42:31 > 0:42:34Because some places, the earth is very hard.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38If I can make a small pickaxe it's going to be very valuable
0:42:38 > 0:42:43and, financial-wise, it's something very, very important.
0:42:43 > 0:42:46So, you know, this is a big thing for me,
0:42:46 > 0:42:48- for my family and for my village.- OK.
0:42:48 > 0:42:52So, what do you think? Do you think this is sharp enough now...
0:42:52 > 0:42:56- Yeah!- ..for what you want? OK.
0:42:56 > 0:43:00In just a few hours, Lionel has learnt the basics of forging tools.
0:43:01 > 0:43:04So...
0:43:04 > 0:43:05for you.
0:43:05 > 0:43:08Thank you, Kevin. Thank you so much.
0:43:08 > 0:43:10- Thank you for teaching me. - No problem.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12Sharing your knowledge with me is one of the biggest things.
0:43:12 > 0:43:15- I really appreciate. Thank you, man.- No worries.
0:43:15 > 0:43:18I will take everything and tell my people
0:43:18 > 0:43:21about how you guys make tools.
0:43:21 > 0:43:23I think you'll make a very good blacksmith.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26- Thank you! Thank you so much. Bye-bye.- Bye-bye.
0:43:29 > 0:43:31It is very, very interesting being here.
0:43:31 > 0:43:35As soon as I get back, I'm going to try to make something like this.
0:43:35 > 0:43:39If I can make my own tools, I don't have to buy tools from no-one.
0:43:39 > 0:43:42I just make my own tools, that would be very beneficial.
0:43:42 > 0:43:44Maybe I can, as I develop,
0:43:44 > 0:43:48I can sell it to other people and make an income.
0:43:53 > 0:43:57In Guyana, John's spending the day finding out more
0:43:57 > 0:44:01about the skills that people like Lionel have traditionally relied on.
0:44:01 > 0:44:06Now we're going to show you how to make the bow.
0:44:06 > 0:44:09OK, brilliant. Have you got a lucky bow?
0:44:09 > 0:44:12- Yeah.- Yeah, have you?! I have lucky socks.
0:44:12 > 0:44:15- This is one of Lionel's skills, making bows.- Right.
0:44:15 > 0:44:19- Yeah.- Has your tribe always used bows like this then?
0:44:19 > 0:44:22- Yes, our forefathers used this. - Yeah.- Yes.
0:44:22 > 0:44:24So, thousands of years ago,
0:44:24 > 0:44:28somebody could have been sitting here from your tribe
0:44:28 > 0:44:30- making a bow just like Derek's doing now?- Yes!
0:44:30 > 0:44:33Yes! That is incredible.
0:44:33 > 0:44:34Over the last generation,
0:44:34 > 0:44:38the lure of the city and the promise of paid work means that young people
0:44:38 > 0:44:41have been leaving villages like Surama in droves.
0:44:41 > 0:44:45Skills like bow-making are at risk of being forgotten.
0:44:45 > 0:44:46We are losing this
0:44:46 > 0:44:50- because other developments are coming into our community.- Yes.
0:44:50 > 0:44:53- More jobs, and we have computers and all those things, you know?- Yes.
0:44:53 > 0:44:55So our children are less interested
0:44:55 > 0:44:58- in those kind of things, you know?- Yes.
0:44:58 > 0:45:01So it seems like we are losing our tradition
0:45:01 > 0:45:04- in making bows and arrows and using them.- Yeah.
0:45:04 > 0:45:08The modern world and technology will bring a lot of really good things,
0:45:08 > 0:45:11- but you don't want to lose your traditions.- Yeah.
0:45:11 > 0:45:14But there is still demand for the products
0:45:14 > 0:45:17that craftsmen like Lionel and Hendricks make.
0:45:17 > 0:45:21A few of our people know how to make these bows and arrows, too.
0:45:21 > 0:45:24So some of the people buy from the people who made this bow.
0:45:25 > 0:45:28- Oh, I see. So they buy the bow. Oh, right.- Yes.
0:45:28 > 0:45:31It's a good skill to teach your children, then?
0:45:31 > 0:45:34- Yes, it's good skill.- Not only can they hunt and get meat and fish,
0:45:34 > 0:45:38- but they can earn money as well through selling bows.- Yeah.
0:45:38 > 0:45:40It's a good thing, then.
0:45:42 > 0:45:45At the moment, Lionel sells his bows infrequently,
0:45:45 > 0:45:50either to other villagers or the odd tourist he happens to meet.
0:45:50 > 0:45:53- You see that?- Wow! Did that go right through?
0:45:53 > 0:45:55- Yes.- Whoa, good. Right, cool.
0:45:55 > 0:45:57But John thinks there could be a way
0:45:57 > 0:46:02for Lionel's crafts to provide the family with more of an income.
0:46:02 > 0:46:04'I think it's very important for them here
0:46:04 > 0:46:08'to cling onto their heritage and to really protect it,
0:46:08 > 0:46:11'and if they can, make some money out of it as well
0:46:11 > 0:46:13'so that they can improve their lives.'
0:46:18 > 0:46:21'Maybe Lionel could open a shop somewhere and sell things.
0:46:21 > 0:46:24'That could be a great way of generating money.'
0:46:26 > 0:46:29Yes! Well done, me.
0:46:29 > 0:46:31- Well done, John.- Thank you.
0:46:33 > 0:46:35OK.
0:46:35 > 0:46:38In the UK, John's daughter Evie is also getting an insight
0:46:38 > 0:46:41into Lionel's skills as a craftsman.
0:46:41 > 0:46:43So who does this in the village?
0:46:43 > 0:46:46I do it myself, because I'm a huntsman
0:46:46 > 0:46:48and I have to get my arrowhead.
0:46:48 > 0:46:51- So, do you teach other people how to do it?- My kids.
0:46:51 > 0:46:54Skills like arrow-making have been passed down
0:46:54 > 0:46:58from generation to generation in Guyana.
0:46:58 > 0:47:01My dad hasn't taught me anything like this.
0:47:01 > 0:47:04Lionel is only too aware of what's at risk
0:47:04 > 0:47:07from the increasing need for cash.
0:47:07 > 0:47:09If you are not careful,
0:47:09 > 0:47:12we would lose our culture and craft-making,
0:47:12 > 0:47:15because it looks like we are following too much
0:47:15 > 0:47:17of how developed countries...
0:47:17 > 0:47:20Or people in the developed country lives,
0:47:20 > 0:47:23rather than just protecting our culture right.
0:47:23 > 0:47:26And that's how your arrowhead should look like.
0:47:26 > 0:47:29- Wow!- Would you like to have a go?
0:47:29 > 0:47:30Yes, please.
0:47:30 > 0:47:35'It is very important to pass on knowledge and experiences
0:47:35 > 0:47:39'to young generations as to what our forefathers did in the old days.'
0:47:39 > 0:47:42Slowly. Yeah, that's good.
0:47:42 > 0:47:47'We start teaching our kids from five, six years,
0:47:47 > 0:47:50'because they must learn to handle knives skilfully.'
0:47:52 > 0:47:57I don't think I would have been able to do this at five!
0:47:59 > 0:48:03- You think that's good enough?- No!
0:48:03 > 0:48:04It looks weird.
0:48:05 > 0:48:08We can hold out together and see which one looks the best.
0:48:08 > 0:48:12- Your one.- Yes, but you did good.
0:48:13 > 0:48:16- That was really fun, thank you.- Thank you.
0:48:22 > 0:48:24In Guyana, John's been thinking about ways
0:48:24 > 0:48:26to make the most of Lionel's talents.
0:48:28 > 0:48:31Lionel is a really great craftsman.
0:48:31 > 0:48:34If they could sell things, that could be a great way
0:48:34 > 0:48:35of generating money.
0:48:35 > 0:48:38So if I can help somehow, that would be really great.
0:48:38 > 0:48:42Over 20,000 tourists travel to Guyana every year
0:48:42 > 0:48:45to experience the pristine jungle and traditional way of life.
0:48:47 > 0:48:50But with Surama well and truly off the beaten track,
0:48:50 > 0:48:53the question is how to attract them.
0:48:53 > 0:48:56John has made his way to the nearest computer,
0:48:56 > 0:48:58at an eco lodge, 1km from the village.
0:49:00 > 0:49:05For me, I'm not a hunter or a fisherman or a farmer,
0:49:05 > 0:49:08but I'd like to bring what skills I can
0:49:08 > 0:49:11to help these guys out a little bit.
0:49:12 > 0:49:15Inspired by the sense of community Surama has shown him,
0:49:15 > 0:49:18he wants to do his bit by helping to find a way
0:49:18 > 0:49:21to connect with potential tourists passing by.
0:49:21 > 0:49:24I'm creating a social media page for Lionel
0:49:24 > 0:49:28to market his skills and what he can offer people.
0:49:28 > 0:49:33So people will be able to find him and spend money!
0:49:33 > 0:49:36I've found a great photo of him in a canoe,
0:49:36 > 0:49:38so I think people will be impressed by that.
0:49:41 > 0:49:44There you go, he's there.
0:49:45 > 0:49:48"Lionel James updated his profile picture." That's good.
0:49:48 > 0:49:51So I've put, "I belong to the Macushi tribe
0:49:51 > 0:49:53"who have lived here for thousands of years
0:49:53 > 0:49:55"and practise the traditional skills,
0:49:55 > 0:49:59"such as hunting, fishing, bow-making and weaving,
0:49:59 > 0:50:02"in the jungle around Surama Village, Guyana."
0:50:02 > 0:50:04OK, I think that's it.
0:50:06 > 0:50:10My hope, in doing this, is that it will set him up for the future.
0:50:11 > 0:50:14I want him to realise that technology isn't to be feared,
0:50:14 > 0:50:18but it's something he can use to market his business
0:50:18 > 0:50:21and, really, so he can start making some money.
0:50:26 > 0:50:28It's the last night of the swap,
0:50:28 > 0:50:31and in the UK Evie, too, wants to show Lionel
0:50:31 > 0:50:34how he can use technology to get the message about his crafts
0:50:34 > 0:50:35out to the masses.
0:50:36 > 0:50:43eBay is basically where you can sell things that you've made.
0:50:43 > 0:50:47So you could actually make money from your village.
0:50:47 > 0:50:49Maybe that would be useful.
0:50:49 > 0:50:52Thank you so much for giving me that information.
0:50:52 > 0:50:54So the most important thing
0:50:54 > 0:50:57is probably to take a photo.
0:50:58 > 0:51:01'Evie, even though she's young,
0:51:01 > 0:51:04'she seemed to be knowledgeable about the technology.
0:51:04 > 0:51:07'I just taught her simple things
0:51:07 > 0:51:10'about making arrowheads,
0:51:10 > 0:51:13'that's nothing compared to what she taught me.'
0:51:13 > 0:51:15So, as you can see, it says, "What do you want to sell?"
0:51:15 > 0:51:17Just put "arrowheads".
0:51:17 > 0:51:20I think we should describe it more,
0:51:20 > 0:51:24because when you say "arrowheads", it's not very interesting.
0:51:24 > 0:51:28"Handcrafted arrowheads from Guyana."
0:51:28 > 0:51:30'I really appreciate what she taught me.
0:51:30 > 0:51:32'It seems very interesting.
0:51:32 > 0:51:37'Even from home you could sell your produce to the outside world.'
0:51:38 > 0:51:40Yeah, it's really impressive. Yeah.
0:51:44 > 0:51:46Don't forget your toothbrush.
0:51:46 > 0:51:49Having spent the last week living one another's lives,
0:51:49 > 0:51:51the time has come for John and Lionel
0:51:51 > 0:51:52to start the long journey home.
0:51:54 > 0:51:58- OK, Rachel, I am leaving!- Bye-bye!
0:51:58 > 0:52:00Oh, Evie!
0:52:00 > 0:52:02'I'm going to really miss Lionel.'
0:52:02 > 0:52:04Because he was really funny and nice
0:52:04 > 0:52:08and he taught us lots of things about his country
0:52:08 > 0:52:09and where he lives,
0:52:09 > 0:52:13and he's not modern and he just makes his own things
0:52:13 > 0:52:16and that's really what I like about him.
0:52:17 > 0:52:20I'm very sad at this moment, leaving good people.
0:52:20 > 0:52:25Since I come, everybody was so hospitable, friendly.
0:52:26 > 0:52:28And at the same time,
0:52:28 > 0:52:32I'm looking forward to seeing my family back home.
0:52:33 > 0:52:35- That's for you.- Wow, thank you.
0:52:35 > 0:52:37You put it up on your wall as a souvenir
0:52:37 > 0:52:40and, every time you look at it, you will remember Surama.
0:52:40 > 0:52:42Oh, thank you very much indeed.
0:52:42 > 0:52:44Thank you. Wow.
0:52:44 > 0:52:47I can shoot the squirrels outside now.
0:52:48 > 0:52:50'My experiences here
0:52:50 > 0:52:55'have been unlike any I've had anywhere else.
0:52:55 > 0:52:57'It's such a different environment,
0:52:57 > 0:53:01'it's like being on a different planet, and I've enjoyed it.
0:53:01 > 0:53:03'It's been hard, but nevertheless
0:53:03 > 0:53:05'I'll take something with me from here,
0:53:05 > 0:53:08'because there's a deep appreciation of community.'
0:53:15 > 0:53:18Before reuniting with their families,
0:53:18 > 0:53:20John and Lionel will meet for the first time.
0:53:20 > 0:53:25I'm feeling really excited about seeing Lionel today.
0:53:25 > 0:53:27He's like a long-lost brother or something,
0:53:27 > 0:53:30because I know so much about him but I've never met the fella.
0:53:33 > 0:53:36I will be very interested, yes, of course,
0:53:36 > 0:53:40to hear how John coped with doing some of my work.
0:53:40 > 0:53:42When I get there,
0:53:42 > 0:53:44I will get the whole story.
0:53:44 > 0:53:48This whole experience has given me great insight into who he is,
0:53:48 > 0:53:52so I'm going to be very interested to find out what he has to say.
0:53:53 > 0:53:56- Hello!- Hello! Hi.
0:53:56 > 0:53:59- You must be John. - Hello, Lionel.- Nice to meet you.
0:53:59 > 0:54:01- Hello. Hi, mate.- How are you? - All right, doing well.- Good.
0:54:01 > 0:54:05- Take a seat, let's catch up. - Why not!
0:54:05 > 0:54:08- How was London for you? - Actually, it was unbelievable.
0:54:08 > 0:54:11- Unbelievable?!- Unbelievable.
0:54:11 > 0:54:13But, beside everything else,
0:54:13 > 0:54:15you have a very lovely family.
0:54:15 > 0:54:17- Oh, thank you. Thank you.- So do you.
0:54:17 > 0:54:19- Very welcoming.- So do you.
0:54:19 > 0:54:22John, I want to ask you, what do you think about the way I live?
0:54:22 > 0:54:27I put myself in your shoes for this small slot of time,
0:54:27 > 0:54:29but I don't think I could do it for the rest of my life
0:54:29 > 0:54:31- or for very long at all, really. - Yeah, yeah.
0:54:31 > 0:54:35Something that we're seeking in London is more community...
0:54:35 > 0:54:37Mm-hmm.
0:54:37 > 0:54:41..and in Surama, people have time for one another
0:54:41 > 0:54:43and people care about one another.
0:54:43 > 0:54:46- We haven't got that in the same way in the UK.- Yeah.
0:54:46 > 0:54:48- That's been lost. - Everything is different, yeah.
0:54:48 > 0:54:51Yeah, that's what I see, that's what I experienced.
0:54:51 > 0:54:55People don't have that togetherness.
0:54:55 > 0:54:57What would you do if you were me?
0:54:57 > 0:55:00I found out when I was in Scotland
0:55:00 > 0:55:04how people in the countryside were more happier
0:55:04 > 0:55:06- than living in the city.- Yeah.
0:55:06 > 0:55:11So my advice is, it might be like starting from scratch again
0:55:11 > 0:55:13if you decide to move but, for the kids,
0:55:13 > 0:55:16they would love the countryside.
0:55:16 > 0:55:17- Yes.- They are really...
0:55:17 > 0:55:20They're really active. Really active kids.
0:55:20 > 0:55:23But it is a big decision.
0:55:23 > 0:55:27- It's a difficult one. - It is. Yeah. Yes, yes.
0:55:27 > 0:55:30This whole experience has opened my eyes
0:55:30 > 0:55:33to what life might be like back in the UK,
0:55:33 > 0:55:38and it has set me thinking about how to stimulate community
0:55:38 > 0:55:42and shared life with other people wherever I am.
0:55:43 > 0:55:47And it will be very influential throughout the rest of my life.
0:55:47 > 0:55:50My advice for you, if I could be so bold,
0:55:50 > 0:55:53I think opening a shop is a vital way
0:55:53 > 0:55:56of keeping your heritage alive,
0:55:56 > 0:55:58because it's generating money.
0:55:58 > 0:56:00And I think the way to do both of those things
0:56:00 > 0:56:02is to start selling crafts
0:56:02 > 0:56:07and use the internet to let people know you're there.
0:56:07 > 0:56:12So, to help in some small way, I set up a social media page for you.
0:56:12 > 0:56:15I think that will be very useful.
0:56:15 > 0:56:19Your daughter taught me similar stuff,
0:56:19 > 0:56:24and putting it together may be very helpful for me in the future.
0:56:24 > 0:56:28- Thank you so much for your encouragement.- Yeah.
0:56:28 > 0:56:31He tried to encourage me. I will take it seriously.
0:56:31 > 0:56:36If you are not careful, we would lose our culture and craft.
0:56:36 > 0:56:39So, actually, that's something very important to be considered,
0:56:39 > 0:56:42to start selling my craft.
0:56:42 > 0:56:43- OK, John.- Good to know you.
0:56:43 > 0:56:46- Nice meeting you.- See you. - Yeah.- See you.
0:56:46 > 0:56:50- Yeah, man.- Yeah. Good one.- Yes. - What a way to meet, eh?- Yes!
0:56:50 > 0:56:53- Incredible, incredible. - Unbelievable.
0:56:53 > 0:56:55- See you again sometime, I hope. - Yeah, goodbye.
0:56:55 > 0:56:59- Bye-bye.- OK, bye. See you.
0:56:59 > 0:57:01'It is one of the biggest adventures I went on.
0:57:01 > 0:57:04'But the tool-making was one big thing for me.'
0:57:04 > 0:57:07The little that I have learned in a short time
0:57:07 > 0:57:10is going to make a big difference for life back home.
0:57:12 > 0:57:16This whole experience has motivated me
0:57:16 > 0:57:19to really squeeze the marrow out of life
0:57:19 > 0:57:23and not just sit around at home
0:57:23 > 0:57:27in front of a TV or a computer waiting to die.
0:57:28 > 0:57:32I want to live - and I only get one life, so I want to live it!
0:57:38 > 0:57:40DOORBELL RINGS
0:57:41 > 0:57:43Hello, what are you doing here?!
0:57:43 > 0:57:45- Yay!- Hello!
0:57:55 > 0:57:57Hello, hello, hello! How are you?
0:58:08 > 0:58:10- Next time...- Good grief!
0:58:10 > 0:58:12..a sheltered fisherwoman
0:58:12 > 0:58:15is dropped into one of the world's busiest cities...
0:58:15 > 0:58:16So many people, so much noise!
0:58:16 > 0:58:20..while a city slicker is forced to cope with the muck of country life.
0:58:20 > 0:58:23I made the right decision - I didn't take my high heels.
0:58:23 > 0:58:26They're a million miles from their comfort zones.
0:58:26 > 0:58:27What do I do with this?
0:58:27 > 0:58:29I've not done this before.
0:58:29 > 0:58:30- Keep going.- OK!
0:58:30 > 0:58:32- Will they survive their new lives...- Right.
0:58:32 > 0:58:35..and can they change the way they lead their own?
0:58:35 > 0:58:38I hope I can learn to be more perfect.