When I return from trips abroad, people often ask: what was your favorite part?
If I'm being honest, I never have an answer right after returning... there is just too much to process. Instead, I usually hem and haw, and come up with one amazing highlight, even if I haven't quite made up my mind. The passage of time provides more clarity however, and I find that there are often specific moments that resonate. Since my trip to Myanmar, I've had one experience that I can't get out of my head. It was a moment that I hope to never forget.
On our way to Mt. Popa (post here), our guide stopped at a tiny local village. While exploring the dirty paths between mud huts, the walkways neatly lined with sticks, we came across a group of children. I apprehensively took a photo of them. They just stared at me. As we continued, I took a few more shots, but the children immediately became reserved and shy. One child showed a bit of interest in the camera, even as another began to look upset. My natural reaction was to turn my camera around and invite them to see the photos.
The small LCD screen wasn't sufficient to show the whole group, and some of the children were hesitant to come close. But curiosity overcame doubt, and one of the more self-assured boys slowly peered into the screen. An enormous smile crept onto his face.
He looked at me and we both smiled. He looked at the photo again... and began to laugh.
In an instant, caution was thrown to the wind as the group crowded around for a glimpse of the images. Almost immediately, the air filled with laughter. They laughed uncontrollably at times, and begged me to take photos of them making silly faces and peace signs. Half the time I couldn't even get the shot in focus before they were grasping at the camera to see the result of their antics. The photos were often blurry and horribly cropped, but it could not have mattered less.
After a slew of photos were taken, I asked the most timid girl in the group to push the buttons on the back of the camera to toggle through the photos. She began to scroll through the images, a look of sheer amazement on her face. After 10 minutes of avoiding the camera, the spell had been broken, and she gestured for me to take one of her. What began as an adorable sheepish smile slowly morphed into a giant grin.
They knew zero English, but we sat there laughing for minutes on end. It was a true testament of the power of a photo. Someday, perhaps, I will go back with the printed images. In the meantime, I smile every time I think of this moment... and hope that, somewhere, these plucky children are smiling too.
