Narrowing gaps of separation

Current Mood : Contemplative
Currently listening To: Careless Breath - EXILE

Skype
MSN Messenger
GoogleTalk
Yohoo Messenger
IRC
ICQ

These are all online communicative platforms. They provide the ability for individuals to connect with each other fast, cheap and in real time. Over the years the providers of such platforms have been improving their services and adding in more user friendly measures for us to enjoy. Now we can type, while being on web-cam interface, while talking to each other using the microphone. The main objective is, of course, to narrow the gaps of separation, to make the distance feel a little closer.

Over the years I have taken them for granted.

Because I have been so used to it, it has barely occurred to me when I chat with my online friends through the two platforms that I use mostly, which is MSN Messenger and Google Talk. I think nothing of the amazing feat in motion when I catch up on daily gossips with friends halfway around the world, what with them pursuing their education overseas in the U.S of A, England, Canada, Australia, Japan etc. Because I have taken it for granted.

Does anyone realize how truly amazing and magical it is to be able to talk to someone halfway across the planet in real time? How convenient our lives are now? Is anyone aware of the utter devastation if say, one day such a luxury would be stripped away from us?

It is also definitely different from handphones, as online communication is so much more cheaper comparatively. As an average student, finance is always the figure that hurts the most. Obviously it is impossible for us to keep international relationships intact through phonecalls or extremely expensive sms-es.

What made me realize how wonderful these chatspaces were and heartwarming to have them, was during an early morning chatting session I had with my little brother, who is currently on a student exchange trip in Costa Rica. Even though we have been chatting with each other on and off during the span of the past 2 months, yesterday was the first night we had a web-cam session.

It was then I though, gawd I really miss him.

He looked funny with hair that is too long, chubbier with all the good food his host mother is apparently feeding him with. Darker due to all the healthy dose of sunlight he's receiving there. On his end he was utterly horrified to see that I am now much chubbier than he recalled, but not at all surprised (He understands me chocolate fetish)

But I'm so glad that I could see him online, and we were talking like old times again, probably a bit closer. MSN Messenger, and their web-cam function made this possible yesterday. It narrowed down the gaps of separation of my siblings, I felt closer to my brother emotionally now than before even though our distance is so far apart, it gave my mum a sense of relief and pure joy just by being able to see her son again, and that he is doing well in Costa Rica.

Here I'd like to thank the wonderful and totally brilliant makers of internet chatspaces, for they are simply a Godsend. =)

I'll remember to never take MSN Messenger, or other chatspaces, for granted again.