Well, just a few bits and pieces! Firstly, make sure you take pictures of your family and your work/university etc, and try to learn the words for them (mother, father etc) in whatever language you're using at the time. They are worth their wieght in gold for the interest they generate, which allows you a chance to speak to the locals. Compilation music tapes are good too.

Secondly, take the smallest camera you can. Unless you're a really good photographer, those landscape shots will never turn out the way you want them, so just get one of those cigarette pack size devices and take pictures with people in; I didn't do enough, and I regret it. If you want landscape shots, get a disposable wide angle camera and use that instead.

Thirdly, exercise books are the best things to write a diary in; unless handwriting recognition is perfected in a Palm Pilot size package anytime soon, in which case use that as the savings in typing time will be phenomenal!

Finally, do a few things well rather than lots of things badly. There's always somewhere you missed, so don't worry about it!
Back to frames- if you're not in them already!
© Rupert Fiennes 1998