Can you hear me now?

Houston..do you copy.
I have now spent over two years as an expat in Korea. One undeniable truth is the value of communicating with others. Like the moon that communication waxes and wanes like the moon, but there is one great truth, for an expat it is of critical importance.
We now live in a day and age where you can literally talk to someone across the world instantly. You can use instant video and messaging from the tops of mountains and that is not to mention other forms of social media and simple texting and tweeting which has replaced the need to write using any form of pen and paper. We are the technology age. In the end though it does not matter what form of communication you use, the important thing is that you actually use it.
I am not saying that I am innocent in this but as I study more about my family and their past, it is amazing how a few words make all the difference in the world.
From an expat perspective here are some thoughts:

First is that I knew all along that communication from home would slowly dwindle the longer I was away, it doesn't make it easier. It is true that if you work at it, you find another circle of friends that become your family while you are working but it is not the same. You have some shared experiences but that only goes so far.

Second is the written word can be priceless in hard times and in good times. It doesn't take much. Just a line or two but it can change the outlook of your entire day. This goes for me as well as everyone I know. If I think about writing or calling someone, I need to stop right there and do that. Not put it off anymore. Odds are that person needs to hear from you too.

Third is to never think that what your mundane day to day events are not interesting to read about. They make at least this expat feel back at home sometimes while eating a meal I can't even pronounce. You never have to wait to go on a vacation or have a major event happen to write about it.

Try it sometime. Ever think back 100 years and just wonder what the generations did before to spend their days. Pretty sure that they wouldn't be on a computer writing this blog. If you don't feel like dropping a line to someone you haven't talked to in awhile, write to yourself just a log of what you did today. In a year open it. You might be surprised at the power of just that. Now imagine what it means for someone away from home to hear what you find so "boring." Imagine what that Christmas card means. Or an email just saying what the weather is like at home and that is apple picking time when someone lives in an entirely different climate than you.
It's keeping history a part of present thought. It's important. If we start losing the ability to socialize, which has already greatly declined, what will become of us in the years ahead? Face to face interaction is already becoming a thing of the past and it is often awkward. Now where will technology take us? For all of the amazing things it has offered, what happens as we rely on it more and more.

So can you hear me now or did you space off halfway through this blog to post on facebook or answer a text? Think about it.