When I was packing to go on my Impact Trip to Kenya with CARE for AIDS in March of 2019, I did not imagine that bringing my Polaroid camera would create one of my favorite memories of the trip. With clear tape barely holding up the camera’s lens and the battery pack constantly falling out, I was unsure if I would even use this relic from seventh-grade so it ended up spending most of the time in my suitcase at the hotel. However, when the day for home visits came, I decided that I wanted to bring it.
When we entered the first home of the day, we were welcomed by a mother that had just begun the nine-month program with CARE for AIDS. As she held her newborn baby in her lap, she began telling us how the program had already started to change her family's lives even in just the first few months. After sharing her story, she showed us around her home, commenting on the different photos she had of her older children. With her baby in her arms, it was easy to notice that she did not have a photo with this child, as she did with her other children. I quickly was reminded about my Polaroid camera from someone on our team and we offered to take their photo together.
When I snapped the picture and it popped out from the camera, everyone waited with anticipation. This was one of my favorite parts of the whole experience. As we took turns shaking the picture (and singing Hey Ya! by OutKast,) I saw the parents and kids around me join in the laughter and watched their faces light up as they watched it slowly develop.
As we visited more homes throughout the day, it seemed like the same story repeated. After every opportunity we had to talk to different families, we always asked if they wanted a photo of themselves as well as a group photo. Having a photograph that instantly developed was a fun and exciting novelty, and because of all of the continuous laughter and conversations, we made sure that whoever took the photo gave us a countdown so we could be ready. As the Polaroid started to develop, everyone went silent - staring at the photograph and waiting for the final result. Who knew that a simple picture could cultivate so much conversation, smiles, and laughter?
I am continually reminded of these moments from my trip to Kenya. I am reminded of the power a photo has and how quick I am to forget that. Of how a picture can suddenly become irreplaceable and invaluable when it serves as one of the few visual reminders you have of you and your child. Since returning home, I’ve found that it has become harder for me to delete photos from my phone. Maybe it is the travel photos, the college memories, or just the accumulation of moments all neatly compiled. Whatever it is, I know that my Impact Trip plays an immense role in why it is harder to even delete the random, accidental photos, because now it is easier to see the memories and meaning behind each one.
