Each time I have ventured OS the world was a different place - technologically! Europe 1995 Lisa, Sue and I stood at Mascot with our mothers and Lisa said I'll ring each Wednesday, Sue said she'd ring each Sunday and I said I'll see you in 11 weeks! We happily travelled listening to our compilation tapes and were in blissful ignorance of the events of the world - until the odd accommodation with CNN - naughty Hugh Grant! Postcards were the only evidence I was still alive and many were written with the annoying issues of finding and buying appropriate stamps.
2001 we took tapes but cars had CD players and Lisa had little contact from home but I got very regular emails from Mum who believed that I needed to know in minute detail the process she went through varnishing the balcony furniture! I also recall sitting in an Internet cafe giving assessment advice via email to the beautiful Patrice who was teaching my Maroubra Year 1s. The postcards were much fewer and my weekly email update was sent to everyone - as a result no one was interested in hearing about the trip on my return because they had read all about it (though there were, of course, lots more stories to tell). Both holidays were captured on film with our cameras
Ten years later we will take our mobile phones (for emergency use only as Roaming fees are significant), both will have ipods, dock for charging and listening to our own music at night, GPS, Lisa has an e reader, I'm downloading some books to listen to and the event will be captured on our digital cameras which we are both planning to create books (as you do!) to keep the memories alive for many years to come. We aren't taking laptops/ipads but I plan to find Internet access at least weekly to keep anyone who is interested up to date with my Blog. (I did learn something from the Web 2 course!)
So read or ignore as you wish. I remember (God knows why!) we were asked at teacher's college the purpose of writing postcards - and I was the only one to get the answer right - to make others jealous!!
No - not my aim of this really. Just keeping those who may be interested in the loop.
October - after our return
After my intro I thought it was worth updating the technology aspect of our trip. My GPS refused to work and after emailing Tom Tom they said it needed to be returned to them! $80 worth of US & Canadian maps wasted. When I returned to Good Guys this week the first thing the assistant did was turn it on - and it worked!!!!!
At the end of the second week I lost my phone. BUGGER! I assume it fell out of my bag as the front pocket did have a dodgy clip.
At least the blog thing worked for me and a number of people have said they enjoyed keeping up with the adventure. Now photos are added I am happy to not print any and create a book in the summer holidays.
So technology did enhance the trip but there is nothing perfect in this world.
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