What a difference

I've been thinking about how much life has changed for me in Japan from the first time I lived her back in 1998 until now in 2010. And wow...looking at that span of years I'm feeling a bit old. LOL! Oh well. In 98 I had just set up my hotmail account so I could instantly send messages to family and friends via email. It was such an amazing thing compared to mailing letters! We knew that we could send a message and it would be received in less than a day when the other person got online! So fast! The only delay was the fact that I had to use the school's computer lab to email since having a laptop and internet at my apartment was way too expensive. Phone calls were planned with appointments mostly, because they were so important and usually costly. I treasured them! I had a cell phone but no land line, so if I wanted to call anyone I had to literally go and use a pay phone with a calling card. I preferred the one in the subway, because it was quieter than the one off the street. Ha!

Then when I did the JET Program in 2001-2003, instant chat was all the rage. I could login and have live conversations with people from my computer, in my own apartment. It was so fun and really made me feel connected to home, in a black and white sort of way. I also had a land line with a discounted calling plan so I could occasionally call to the States and splurge in hearing the live voices of loved ones right from the comfort of my own home.

Now it's 2010. I can video conference into my niece's birthday party via Skype with a high speed, wireless internet connection while lounging in my bed. I can see people's faces, moods and even a Mille Lacs sunset (thanks Tara!). I can do this basically for free. I almost don't feel the distance from home in many ways, which is nice. Facebook lets me know what's going on....who died, who was born, who got engaged or is dating etc... But I wonder how it would've been this time without all of this instant information and ease of communication. I'm not complaining. I don't want to live without it, but I'm not immersed in Japan this time around. I'm more like 1/2 and 1/2 between Japan and America. This is just something I'm thinking about lately...how technology has changed things and my life.

what's goin on

Things are going well in general. We just finished up the "biggest event of the year" at my school and so I feel like a HUGE burden has been lifted from me. The weather is still spring-like, but I adore that since spring is my favorite season! I miss everyone a lot, but as I'm busy here it distracts me from thinking about summers on Mille Lacs. I truly love being home on the lake with family and friends. I'll be home for a visit in August, though, and I can't wait! Well, this is all for today. If I don't allow this short and sweet version, then I may never write. Jya ne!