This is "school picture" week at Emmaus Biblical Seminary. Photography is a rather western idea, we are realizing, as that cameras and photos are nearly unheard of in Haiti. Because of this, explaining that we will be taking individual photos of each student for the sponsorship program was quite a task! The students aren't sure why any one would want to see what they look like, but if I must take the photos, so be it. However, whereas smiling in photos in the States is very acceptable, being caught with a smile on your face in Haiti is "ugly." We spent a long time trying to explain to our otherwise smiley students that if someone in New York (the only state, other than Florida, that seems to be known of in Haiti) saw a picture of them glaring at the camera, they would think that the student was unhappy to be studying the Bible at Emmaus. The students thought this quite an amusing concept, but despite our prodding and explaining, we now have 50 photos of 50 glaring, yet very happy to be studying Bible at Emmaus, students.
We left the chapel defeated, walking past the front bushes of the seminary, now freshly strung with all of the students underwear left to dry in the sun.
Our conclusion is, that if it is not culturally appropriate to smile for photos, but is completely culturally appropriate to hang your underwear off the bushes in the middle of campus during school hours, then we will be spending the next 20 years trying to learn about the Haitian culture :)(pictured: Madame Gisline, the administrative secretary at the seminary and a good new friend of Stacey's...and the biggest smile we caught on film all day!)
i know, i think this is such an interesting thing around the world--it is that way almost everywhere i have been...except with children. i guess there is something crazy with our culture then since we seem to be in the minority. regardless, i like the pictures :)
ReplyDeletehow about a clothes line for underware? clothes pins and a rop can be provided no problem.
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