Foto’s Blog: Sharing is the Universal Language…scenes from Guatemala
NEW Phodographer Hester Bury in Antigua, Guatemala May 2011
I’m Hester Bury and I arrived in Antigua from Chicago early on a Sunday morning in May. I spent the morning walking around the town, getting my bearings and enjoying the beautiful old buildings and cobbled streets. I sat down on a bench in the Parc Central and within minutes was approached by a young girl selling woven bracelets and bags. I bought a couple and then asked her how long she was going to be in the park and if she would like her photo taken. It was mostly sign language as I don’t speak Spanish. I went to fetch Foto and my printer. I returned started to take photos, mostly of the people selling their wares. Before long a crowd gathered and I took and printed photos for more than an hour. The recipients certainly appreciated the gift and one provided small plastic bags so they could be taken home clean and safely. Several tended not to smile at the camera, so different from the US.
For me it was a great experience to be able to recognize individuals through Dog Meet World. Because of my lack of Spanish I was not really able to explain the significance of Foto, but I hope they understood that holding the dog connected them to others all over the world. The printer worked well and provided great quality photos. Thank you for the experience – I hope to inspire others to participate!