One of the most frustrating feelings in the world is losing an item of emotional significance (after hiring a shady moving company to relocate across the country, trust me on this one). However, occasionally life surprises you by thrusting these forgotten items back into your life in the most unexpected ways.
Recently, a group of fifth-graders from Yueming Elementary school found a lost black Canon PowerShot G12 while cleaning a beach in Yilan County, Taiwan. Their teacher, Park Lee, photographed the camera in its waterproof casing, which was covered in shells and barnacles.
2018.03.28岳明國小孩子淨灘時發現的相機，最開始撿到的時候整個機殼，黏滿藤壺、貝殼，讓相機變成蠻酷的造型!
Posted by Park Lee on Tuesday, March 27, 2018
Miraculously, the camera was in perfect condition inside the waterproof case, and the photos were still preserved.
蘇澳岳明國小五年級小朋友，在海邊撿到的相機(是好的，Canon G12)，2018.03.27遺失主人，請與我們聯絡[email protected]
Posted by Park Lee on Monday, March 26, 2018
Incredibly, Lee managed to track down the camera’s owner, Serina Tsubakihara, who had lost the camera three years ago during a scuba diving trip in Ishigaki, Okinawa — 155 miles east of where the camera was eventually found.
“I couldn’t believe it,” Tsubakihara told the BBC. “I was super surprised when my friends told me about this and sent me the post with those pictures.”
蘇澳岳明國小五年級小朋友，在海邊撿到的潛水相機機殼外部，2018.03.27遺失主人，請與我們聯絡[email protected]
Posted by Park Lee on Monday, March 26, 2018
Tsubakihara is headed to Taiwan in June to pick up her camera and thank Lee and his students. As she writes on Facebook:
I can’t still believe this is happening but the only thing I want to say is thank you so much for every single person who was involved with this! I am so lucky and happy to have such a wonderful experience to feel the kindness of people. Borderless. I talked with Mr Park Lee and surprisingly I could have very precious opportunity. I am going to Taiwan to meet him, students and more people in June! I am very excited to be there and meet them. Again, thank you so much for everything!!!
The biggest takeaway from all of this: a waterproof photo case might be the most sound investment ever?