Ode to Communication Technology

Ironically, at the end of a successful first week with international long distance, Google integrated gchat with Google Voice, allowing users to make free calls to the US and Canada (and cheap international calls) from within gchat. This is pretty perfect for Jon- he can now make free calls from his computer to US phone numbers.

The speed at which technology improves communication is amazing. Just over two years ago when we were studying abroad in Budapest, I remember one of the biggest frustrations being able to communicate with my parents back at home. I could only talk to them if we were both sitting at our computers.

Now, Jon can

• call my phone through gchat or Skype
• text my phone through AIM
• IM my phone through the gchat app
• Email my gmail account or my work email address

Best of all, every single one of these communication methods is free (excluding my phone bill, which I would incur either way). The Skype app, on Verizon anyway, only uses data. All of these apps (gchat, gmail plug-in, and Skype) are free.

Communication to Jon isn't quite as easy as Jon doesn't have a phone in Switzerland. He still has to be either at his computer or on a wifi network with his iPod touch. We're hoping to make the iPod touch a little more useful with headphones with a built in microphone so that Jon can use the Skype app anywhere there is wifi.

All in all, I think there are three communication technologies that are completely essential to me in making this whole international long distance relationship thing work!

1. The obvious one- Skype. Being able to hear Jon's voice and see his face is so important to me while we're apart. His smile is contagious to me and Skype allows me to continue to see it! I've heard of some long distance couples that don't use Skype; this is unfathomable to me!
2. Smartphones. These are of course not always a possibility as they are not free, like most of my other favorite communication tools. I happen to have one through my job and will never go back to a regular old feature phone! Through my phone, I am able to communicate with Jon anywhere I am. Thanks to Skype's app and gchat's new calling feature, Jon and I can even talk on the phone for free anywhere. One problem with long distance, particularly with a huge time difference, can be a feeling like you are tied to being home and free at a certain time to be able to talk. But with my phone, if I'm out and about but that's when Jon can talk, I can call him for 20 minutes no problem. I can talk with him on Skype while I'm walking or driving to work (with a hands-free headset, of course!).
3. An oldie (for me anyways) but a goodie- email. The great benefit of email for me actually comes due to the time difference. Jon is asleep from around 3 or 4 until 10 or 11 my time. Sometimes, I think of things I want to tell him or get myself freaked out about something. Being able to email him makes me feel like he's still around and I can still communicate with him. Even though he won't reply until hours later, it makes me feel closer to him. The time difference becomes slightly less relevant since I can always email him.

Honestly, I can't even imagine a long distance relationship without an internet connection that enables all of these communication technologies. Long distance relationships seem to be becoming more common. While this is probably due in part to my generations likelihood to relocate so frequently, I'm sure the technological advances in communication play a part. For me, as long as I am in a long distance relationship, I will be thanking the creators of Skype, AIM, gchat, and all the other communication technology gods!