Paparazzi

I just got back from a trip out to a nearby small town. My friends, MJ, Rach, and I just went for a quick overnight trip to sight see and such. MJ & I have been to the town multiple times, but this was Rach's first time. Its a really cute little town and very historic so it often draws tourist from around the area.

So yesterday evening, we were walking around town, taking in the sights, meeting people etc, when MJ saw some shoes she liked. Now everyone knows that a good girl cannot, and must not pass up a cute pair of shoes. Even if you don't buy them, it is your duty to look, try them on and inquire as to the cost. So as she is sitting trying on shoes, I notice a man behind us taking pictures. This isn't really uncommon as many locals are for some reason fascinated by us pale Americans. But I notice that this man isn't stopping at just one picture and rather he has some very expensive equipment. Plus, he has a friend who also has very expense equipment. So we are smiling and trying to be nice, and lets get honest....really loving every minute of the attention. And I'm thinking, yup...you've arrived, this is where it all begins..ha, ha, ha. We left the shoe store, yes MJ bought them, and headed on down the small street full of shops. Man with camera and friend, follows and takes more pictures. Finally he is gone, but as look up we realize he isn't gone, he ran up ahead of us to get photos of us coming toward him! So as the three of us are walking down the street and being photographed like Brittney on a "bald day" the man starts saying phrases that I don't understand but I know in my heart of hearts translates to something like, "work it," "that's right" "okay a little more to the left."

This is it! This is my moment! But in that moment, I realize that I can never be a model because I blush, giggle, and bow out from in front of the paparazzi like a silly school girl. It was just too much for this girl. I think it was the phrases that got me. Besides, if my modeling career had taken off, I would have become famous, made lots of money, forget my roots, had bad kids so on and so....

Oh, the things that could of been. Ten more feet up the street sat two more of his friends (apparently they were all in a photography club together) resting on a park bench. The man informed them that we were foreigners, a fact I'm sure they didn't know, and was expressing his excitement over taking the pictures. One of the men on the bench was from a much better city and when he was told of the excitement of the foreigners simply looked up as if to say, "big deal, now can we please go see something else." Clearly he wasn't impressed and I just couldn't take that kind of rejection...thus my modeling days were over.

Beautiful, won't be photographed for a while, Feet