05 Oct Humans of IEEC, #2.

(Hugh, 22, from Melbourne)

“I find it hard to catch you without carrying your GoPro. Can you tell me more about it?”

-“Yeah I carry it around everywhere! It’s a funny little device this GoPro, such a small machine that captures the huge memories in your time traveling or exploring your surroundings. An English bloke I met in a bar in Sausalito, SF told me capturing everything I do and see is going to come back and ruin my life. After that comment I finished the beer he bought me and parted ways with him. I told him in no way do I agree with his theory. For me it’s simple, you see. This little device drives me to get out to search for abandoned buildings, high viewpoints of cities and sports such as kayaking to get the crazy photos to look back on when I’m older reminiscing on these adventures.

I even got a nickname out of it. The great mates I have made here on exchange have given me the nickname of ‘The Stick’ due to the outrageously long selfie stick I carry around to get the best angle and wide shots with my GoPro. But, after a long, highly intoxicated day watching a Stanford College football game the stick broke which caused an inability to capture the daily adventures the way I want to over here.”

-“That sucks man. How do you feel about not having The Stick anymore?”.

“I feel weird. It reminded me of when my friend Gareth Dicks shaved his beard and he suddenly wasn’t the same Gareth Dicks anymore. We all kinda avoided him because he looked a bit of a lunch without his beard. My friends feel the same way about me without The Stick. Without The Stick I’m just not the same. Thankfully eBay is currently sending me a new one and once it’s in my hands, the exploring starts again!”