While we were at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Thursday afternoon I finally bought a hat. I wore it at the Visitors’ Center today for the first time. I rather like having the hat on; it’s much more comfortable out in the mid-day sunshine. Two of the sister missionaries (one from Japan and the other from the Philippines) asked me if they could take my picture in the new hat. Of course they could (and the result is the picture at the left). I also took a couple of pictures of them and sent them to their email accounts. They are so much fun to be around and to work with!

The sun shining onto the granite tile around the fountains can be very bright. It’s often bright enough that it hurts young people’s eyes. The standard procedure when taking pictures of people is to tell them that on the count of three they should open their eyes while we take the pictures. We then snap three or four pictures (on the digital cameras or smart phones) on the count of three. Quite often at least one of the pictures works. I often suggest that “takeovers are free” to let them know that it’s no bother for me to take more pictures if needed.

Today for the first time, however, a lady had a film camera … that is, a camera that used rolls of 35mm film. I’ve no idea where she buys the film, though. I haven’t seen rolls of film in stores in a very long time.

Some of the sister missionaries will wear a floppy hat when the sun is bright outside. There are other missionaries that don’t like the hats at all because they are too floppy. I think the hats are quite cute. These two missionaries like the hats. They also suggested, after I had taken their picture and sent it to them, that I should share their picture with my family. So, they are now in my photo album.

And speaking of being in someone’s photo album, I’m now in a half dozen photo albums across China. When I learn that someone is from China, I try out my meager Chinese on them by asking how they are (Ni hau ma?). They’re usually quite surprised that a caucasian speaks to them in Chinese. I also ask them if I can take their picture (Wo keyi ye ban ni pai zhao pian ma) (real Pinyin Chinese would have tone marks over the words, but my keyboard doesn’t have that capability). Quite often they don’t understand the first time I say it, but usually comprehend the second time and repeat, in nice Chinese, the question and laugh. After I take their picture, inevitably they want their picture taken with me! I’m sure it’s because I tried out my twenty-word Chinese vocabulary on them.

Then, as they are leaving, I always say “See you again!” in Chinese … which always gets a smile and a hearty laugh.

Years from now, someone will look at their pictures from their trip to Hawaii and wonder, “Who is that white guy?” and “Where were we when we took this picture?”

Life is full of laughs!