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Sunday, Jan. 11, 2009

Webcams, other ‘puter’ devices keep distant military families connected

Staying connected with friends and families in the 21st century is a whole new ball game. After a few months of trying to communicate the traditional way through a land line, Justin and I woke up and joined the other tech-savvy military families around the world.

First we joined the millions of Webcam chatters using the Internet service Skype to chat from one PC or laptop or another. Not only does this let Avery and Sawyer chat face-to-face with some of their favorite smiles back in the states, but it allows Avery to show off his latest masterpiece or newest toy in real time. Avery now officially thinks phones are outdated and is always asking people if they could call on the “puter” instead. For me, my favorite thing about Web chatting is it’s free.

Though no matter how great Webcams are for staying connected, the reality is only a few members of our families and a handful of friends actually own one, so there is still a need to take advantage of some of the other technological marvels available. This is where the social networking Web sites facebook and MySpace have filled the void.

The computer communities, which also provide free membership, allow me to post an album of photos from our last sightseeing trip in only minutes and our friends from around the world can check out what we are up to before I can even log off. Not only does this let me show off our recent voyages to Windsor Castle or Cadbury World, but it gives me a chance to see what everyone is up to back in the States.

With all that, it is an Internet phone service that has allowed me the freedom to stay connected with everyone no matter how tech-savvy they are without worrying about the financial repercussions. As long as I account for the time difference, I can now pick up my phone and call anyone back in the states for one low fee — and better yet I now have a U.S. phone number, so if my friends or family want to call me without emptying their pocketbook they can too.

I think the fact that technology lets my family and friends stay connected with us even though we are living on separate continents is splendid. I can’t imagine how difficult it was for military families in the past relying on snail-mail and dealing with sky-high international phone rates.

But, for now, I am grateful that technology is easing my desire to connect with old friends, while forging new friendships here in our new home. It is a relief to know technology won’t only serve to help us stay connected in the present, it will also allow us to stay connected to all the people who have and will make our British adventure unforgettable.

Amanda Creel, who was a staff writer at the Robins Rev-Up newspaper on Robins Air Force Base, is married to Staff Sgt. Justin Creel, stationed at Royal Air Force Mildenhall in Suffolk, England. Contact her at acreel@macon.com.