Gmail has helped me tremendously in closing the gap between me and my relatives from Ohio. I have never seen them in person, and only got to communicate with them a few times when I was younger. They all thought they would never hear from my family again. Then about a year ago, I made contact, by sending Christmas cards to the addresses from the old letters they sent and hoped for the best that they didn't move (after over a decade of no communication). In about a month's time I was surprised they emailed me on Gmail! My uncle does not delete any of my emails, and we chat when we can, setting up a concrete schedule to eliminate the time difference issue. It is expensive for our families to visit each other, but Gmail has made it easier for us to feel close to one another. Thank God for technology! I am happy that we have grown much closer, and although I may be "foreign" to them (all of my dad's siblings and their families live in Ohio and I grew up in a different cultural setting), I do not feel that I am the odd one out because they are so very near and dear to my heart.
Angela Ickes, Masters Student
Philippines
Labels: keeping in touch