ONE OF THE MAJOR REASONS FOR THIS BLOG IS TO COMMUNICATE WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON IN MY LIFE.
WHEN I FIRST CAME TO FRANCE I DIDN’T HAVE A PC OR INTERNET AND WAS NOT MUCH FOR WRITING LETTERS SO I USED THE PHONE TO COMMUNICATE.
MY PHONE BILLS WERE $400 TO $500 PER MONTH.
SINCE I’VE HAD THE NET CONNECTION, I HAVE EMAILED THOSE WHO HAVE IT.
ALSO, AS THE YEARS PAST MORE AND MORE PEOPLE CONNECTED.
AS MY MONEY RAN OUT I TRIED TO CUT BACK ON MY PHONE USEAGE.
NOT EASY FOR A PHONEAHOLIC.
I FOUND THAT PEOPLE DIDN’T ANSWER EMAIL AND VERY FEW EVER CALLED, SO I STARTED THIS BLOG TO KEEP PEOPLE ABREAST OF MY LIFE.
EVEN WITH THAT, I STILL HAVE TO CALL TO FIND OUT HOW MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE DOING.
I’VE GOTTEN MY PHONE BILLS TO THE STATES DOWN TO ABOUT $50 A MONTH.
THERE ARE THOSE THAT DO KEEP IN TOUCH, BUT SO MANY OF MY CLOSEST FRIENDS DON’T LEAVE COMMENTS AND DON’T EMAIL REGULARLY TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT THEIR LIVES.
IT’S VERY DISAPPOINTING TO HAVE TO DRAG INFORMATION FROM CLOSE FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
IT SADDENS ME TO BE SLOWLY LEFT OUT OF THEIR LIVES AFTER BEING SO CLOSE.
I HAVE VERY FEW FRIENDS HERE COMPAIRED TO THE STATES, MAINLY BECAUSE OF MY LIMITED LANGUAGE SKILLS AND THE FACT THAT I DON’T MINGLE AS I USED TO IN THE U.S.
I’VE TRIED EVERY GIMMICK I CAN THINK OF TO GET PEOPLE TO KEEP IN TOUCH, TO NO AVAIL.
I GUESS I AM GOING TO HAVE TO SETTLE FOR THOSE FEW WHO DO KEEP IN TOUCH OCCASIONALLY.
I’VE LEARNED A LOT ABOUT HUMAN NATURE FROM THIS EXPERIENCE AND I SOMETIMES WISH I HADEN’T.
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO DO LET ME KNOW YOU ARE ALIVE AND WELL,
I THANK YOU.
TO THOSE OF YOU WHO READ THIS AND KEEP SILENT,
I MISS YOU AND WILL LET YOU GO.
I AM GETTING TOO OLD TO BE CHASING PEOPLE WHO DON’T CARE AS MUCH AS I DO.
1 comment:
Hey Jo,
What you write here is exactly the same for us.
What about those people who never answer your email, never give you a phone call and have the nerves to fuss at you the next time YOU pick up the phone to call them and they complain you haven't been
giving them news.
Same thing for the visits. You almost have to go to the US once a year or you are considered a "traitor" to the family, but how many of your relatives and friends have crossed the Atlantic to come visit you ?
Like you says it teaches you a lot about human nature...
I would have like to protect my children from learning to soon about all that But no...
In January, it was Anais 8th birthday. Everyday for two weeks she looked forward to open the mailbox. All she found from the US was one birthday card.. and also she got one email...She should have gotten a minimum of five. It had been the same a couple of weeks before for Christmas...
Several times she asked: "Why did my American family not think about me?"
What is the right answer to that child's question?
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