Amanda Wilson, Hokies Abroad marketing intern, shares a creative way to capture your globe trotting fun:

While I try to stay on top of my journal reflections while traveling, it is often difficult to document every interesting event and thought while simultaneously living the next exciting adventure.

One of my favorite simple ways to record memories is through a photo journal. Of course I take hundreds of pictures of beautiful vistas, wildlife and candid moments of friends, but everywhere I go I also take a picture of my feet. Yes, my feet. This may sound a bit strange, but my collection of “feet photos” is actually one of my most cherished albums.

Here are a couple tips to create a cohesive “feet” travel photo journal:

1. Be mindful of the background; this is actually the focus of the photo. You want to make sure that there are clues as to where you are located in the photo. Pick a landmark like the Sydney Opera House to frame your photo. Also, keep the focal image (e.g. feet) fairly consistent throughout your photos to create a coherent album.

2. If this is something that sparks your interest, get creative with your photo journal; you don’t just have to stick with feet. For example, Dr. Lori Blanc, a Hokies Abroad professor at Virginia Tech, has a picture of herself mid-cartwheel on every beautiful beach she has visited in recent years.  Other ideas include taking pictures of your backpack, a university flag or a childhood stuffed animal.

Let us know of any other cool ways you have stored your photos or memories from your study abroad trip!