Documenting Your Time As An Exchange Student
A quote that many use is “It’s not a year in your life, it’s a life in a year”. I’ve always thought that was a bit extreme but after living...
Hello everyone! In today’s post I’ll be sharing some ideas on how you can document your time as an exchange student and why it’s so important to do so!
Why document your exchange?
A quote that many use is “It’s not a year in your life, it’s a life in a year”. I’ve always thought that was a bit extreme but after living through my first exchange year I can definitely see why it’s said. One goes through so much during the year, especially because everything is new! It does really feel like an alternate life for a while. I took SO many pictures, but after a while it becomes more routinary and one can forget how amazing the experience they are living is. By finding different ways to do it you keep the spark of excitement alive!! I love looking back on my memories and remembering how I felt in the moment.
Film Camera & Polaroid
Analog cameras are back in style! I got a Polaroid for Christmas last year and it was the best gift ever! There is something really special about having your pictures printed instantly and in a specific moment. With a Polaroid one can’t just do a burst of pictures, it captures the instant! With a film camera it can be a little different since the pictures need to be developed after the whole reel is done. But there is something exciting about not seeing the pictures until some time has passed. One of my friends got a disposable camera towards the end of the year and didn’t develop the pictures until she was back in her home country! Imagine how cool would it be to take all sorts of pictures during the year and develop ALL of them at the end!
These are similar to the ones me or my friends have used! They can seem a bit pricey, especially considering you’ll need to buy more film and develop it (not on Instax though!). However, if this is something you can afford definitely consider it!
Reusable film camera link (This is the one I have!)
These are some pics I’ve taken with my film camera!
Make a Memory Box
I have seen so many cute memory boxes! The main idea is basically to get a box, decorate it, and store all your memories of the year there. It can be filled with receipts, movie tickets, concert tickets, high school papers, pictures, bracelets, wrappers?... Pretty much anything that holds sentimental value to you. It doesn’t have to be paper, since it’s a memory box and not a journal it can be three dimensional. Some people get a wooden box, paint it, add stickers and more to it! Others get a shoe box or plastic box and do the same thing. The possibilities are endless and it can be a great way to encapsulate your exchange year.
Make a Scrapbook
Who doesn’t love a craft session!? Making a scrapbook can be so much fun and a great way to document your exchange year. I started mine during the summer when my year was over, and there is really something to say about creative freedom and reminiscing about those memories. This year however, I started it while I was in the States! I will be doing it during the year and make some pages from time to time. There are scrapbooks on Amazon, but you can also find them in many stores like Walmart, Target or other big stores! You can involve your exchange friends in the process and have a craft afternoon even. This is definitely a more affordable way that you will LOVE to look back to!
Like always, thank you for reading! I hope you enjoyed the post and found some inspiration! Feel free to message us @exchangelifecommunity or my personal account @silviaruizz_ with any questions, recommendations or concerns! We do our best to answer them all!
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