Skype

Skype does put your family together.  When you think about it, it's pretty amazing.  Long are the days that you have to post a letter in the mail and hope that eventually it will reach your loved one.  Oh, wait. Actually, this does still apply in my circumstance!  Alright.  But at least that long-awaiting post is supplemented by Skype.

On Sunday, I was able to Skype with my brother, my sister-in-law, and one of my nieces in the good 'ol US of A.  It was the first time I had heard their voices and seen their beautiful faces in four months.  My daughter got to speak (although in a very silly way) with her sweet cousin.  It was good.  It was better than good.  It was great.

Great to connect with my family.  OK, so afterwards, I had to hide myself in the kitchen and blow snot into paper towels for ages.  My eyes were swollen for the rest of the day and I had a pit, an ache in my stomach.  Though connecting brought me happiness, it was a raw reminder of how far away we really are, too.  I can't just drive up to my brother's and stare at their clear sky while the strong valley winds bluster.  Bittersweet.  Hard to swallow.

I know that each time I connect, though, the bitterness bites less and the sweetness lingers longer.  I've been able to Skype with a couple of my besties a few times each; each time it gets easier.  (Translation: less crying after or during.)

Bangkok visits are like this:

The internet connection is stronger and faster, so we can video chat the whole time.  In Yangon, people can't see us (not such a bad thing!), but we may be able to see you, if we're lucky.  Voice chatting is just fine, though.

To any of you who haven't uploaded Skype yet, I hope you do so we can chat! It's easy, it's free, and it's just like talking on the phone.  Um. Except you have to put up with my poor internet connection and the fact that we'll get disconnected multiple times. Aside from that, though, it's just like being on the phone!

And I promise, I will call you back when we get disconnected.  Unless I can't.

-Becky 

P.S. if you do download Skype (FREE!!!!!!!), then add me.