Pictures for home

About two days into my year in Michigan my dad started bugging me for pictures. He even sent a film for me to shoot and instructions just to mail the film home so he could develope it in Denmark. Didn't help much. I can now see from the pictures that we were well into winter by the time I actually shot some pictures of where I lived, my school etc. The phrase I can still hear my hostmother saying is; "Bring your camera!" Didn't help either.

Again technology sure have changed in 20 years. Posting a instant memory to facebook when it is happening is awesome! And yet not much has changed ... I say "Bring your camera" to her and her parents are bugging her for pictures. She says it didn't have anything to do with the fact that her mom offered money for each posted picture but a few weeks ago she did start to take more pictures. I have even seen her camera out at several occasions.

At first she was stumped as to what to take pictures of. So I explained to her what it is her parents wants to see. Pictures of the street she lives on, pictures of the yellow bus she takes everywhere every day, the red trains, the school and anything that makes her smile or that would make her parents smile.

That helped - she took some great pictures of what I suggested and things I didn't even see coming; like this one:


It had the caption; "We're so happy to see you."

Thinking back and looking at my pictures from back then I must admit that it is the everyday pictures I wish I had more of.

Lessons learned
- Taking pictures requires persuation regardless of nationality and decade
- We have happy electrical outlets