Whoever said that technology is evil probably doesn’t have family thousands of miles away.
I happen to have tons of loved ones living in another country, and technology is oftentimes the only thing that connects me to them. My father worked in Italy for almost a decade and he lived with my mother’s siblings. My father decided last year to stay in the Philippines for good but more of my relatives are moving to Italy. My grandparents went to Italy last week. Though they’re coming back in March, some of my cousins who will go there in the next few months are staying there for good.
I sometimes think that only my sister and I will be the ones left in the Philippines. We both want to stay here, and when people asked us before why we didn’t move to Italy with our father, we just shrugged our shoulder. I just really don’t see any point in going there right now. Maybe for vacation, but not to stay there. I do not have the heart to leave the country, not yet, anyway. But I really think it’ll be nice to visit my cousins!
I digress. I digress, too much.
Anyway, Facebook, for a couple of months now, has the video call function and my cousins are using it all the time. It was only this weekend that I tried it by myself, though! I just used to go to my lola’s house whenever a video call is going on. It’s always such a riot! When we do videocalls, we don’t just talk to one person. Sometimes we end up talking to all the family members over there! Like this last sunday, my tita’s house was full of people. Oldies (heh) and youngsters alike hogged a little screentime.
It’s winter in Italy right now, and my lola, who just got there for the first time, is wearing her usual house dress and saying that it’s mabanas. Naks, sanay sa snow!
I take awful screenshots! But the one on the right side is Tita Nel and she’s one of the people living in that house. My lolo and lola are staying with her and my cousins. Also, my father used to live there.
The one on the left side is Nanay Conching and I think this was the time when she’s telling us how she met Coco Martin and even got to hug him. It’s not that obvious, but she was really happy. Like, over-the-moon happy.
Cousins! Ate Rachel, Renz, Ron and Bryan. Renz is actually my oldest grandson. Ha! He’s already the tallest in the bunch and he already has a girlfriend. Gah, I feel so old.
Blurred Rannie is blurred. Hi, Tin!
I have no idea how it feels to live in another country. I also have no idea how it feels to leave friends behind and to be away from some of your loved ones. I’m just glad that things like the internet and cellphone exist. How else can I constantly keep in contact with my awesome family who happen to be a couple of time zones away?Talking to someone in person may be better but if video call is all you got, then how can you complain about technology? It’s not like people really want to be apart.
I know this is a bit different topic, but since we’re talking about living abroad, lately, I am considering leaving Phils and working in another country. However, I really don’t think I can do it. I tend to complain that it’s tiring to go home to Laguna every week but I am pretty sure I will miss my parents if ever I’d leave. I also don’t want to be away from Alex for more than a month. Long-distance relationship is something I do not want to try anytime, soon. It’s quite tempting to take on that different path and to have an adventure. But I don’t think I really want to try it. There’s just so much at risk.
I know that working abroad offers more financial stability and career opportunities. Essa and I were talking earlier and we both agree that things really get more complicated when you get older. I guess that’s just something I have to deal with.
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