Woes of Technology
Thanks to those of you who let us know that photo links weren't working on more recent posts. I think we've got the issue fixed and posts are marked as with photos fixed. Please let us know if there are other tech issues...
Technology on the road has been a bit challenging. Like so many things in life what has proved to be a wonderful thing is also a challenge (the old two sides of the same coin analogy). It has been great for all of us to have a dramatic decrease in screen time on this trip. We are not a particularly screen heavy family, but we are not on minimalists either, and the use has been creeping up as devices become ever more prevalent, socializing for the adolescent becomes more and more through video games, and parents struggle with the ever present iphones. Kids would ask to "get on a screen" for longish (but not really that long) car rides. Screen time was always a reward, or taken away as a punishment. There seemed to be omnipresent requests, wheedling or negotiating for more screen time, which quickly becomes tiresome. What has happened on this trip is that has almost completely disappeared due to lack of reliable wifi, change of routine and "out of sight out of mind". Airplane travel is a free for all and they get to use their devices as much or as little as they want, but they are never out during car rides and often days go by without anyone asking.
Leo has a SIM card for his phone (it was so easy to get - we had multiple choices before we even passed the customs and immigration booth at the Auckland airport!) We mostly use the phone for google maps, but our coverage has been spotty at best and often there are days without any cellular coverage. Wifi has been available at stops with roofs but often slow and unreliable in the backcountry of New Zealand. Given that we are spending most of our nights camping we often go days without even think about trying to connect.
All this to say that it has been nice to find ways to fill our time without screens. It has been good to go to bed without the glowing screen nearby and to wake up without it nearby. It is good for us all to remember how to entertain ourselves (so many more books are being read by all and games being played!).
But the down side is when we do get on wifi there is so much to do as far researching next stops, book ferries, apply for entry visas, research and book lodging in future countries. There is logging in to home bank accounts and credit cards to make sure all is looking okay and then there is staying in touch over email. So the time on wifi flies by and getting to uploading the blog posts is sporadic at best. But there you have it, the good and the bad.
And yes, this is only being written in the beautiful calm that comes with three kids being plugged into a screen :-)
Technology on the road has been a bit challenging. Like so many things in life what has proved to be a wonderful thing is also a challenge (the old two sides of the same coin analogy). It has been great for all of us to have a dramatic decrease in screen time on this trip. We are not a particularly screen heavy family, but we are not on minimalists either, and the use has been creeping up as devices become ever more prevalent, socializing for the adolescent becomes more and more through video games, and parents struggle with the ever present iphones. Kids would ask to "get on a screen" for longish (but not really that long) car rides. Screen time was always a reward, or taken away as a punishment. There seemed to be omnipresent requests, wheedling or negotiating for more screen time, which quickly becomes tiresome. What has happened on this trip is that has almost completely disappeared due to lack of reliable wifi, change of routine and "out of sight out of mind". Airplane travel is a free for all and they get to use their devices as much or as little as they want, but they are never out during car rides and often days go by without anyone asking.
Leo has a SIM card for his phone (it was so easy to get - we had multiple choices before we even passed the customs and immigration booth at the Auckland airport!) We mostly use the phone for google maps, but our coverage has been spotty at best and often there are days without any cellular coverage. Wifi has been available at stops with roofs but often slow and unreliable in the backcountry of New Zealand. Given that we are spending most of our nights camping we often go days without even think about trying to connect.
All this to say that it has been nice to find ways to fill our time without screens. It has been good to go to bed without the glowing screen nearby and to wake up without it nearby. It is good for us all to remember how to entertain ourselves (so many more books are being read by all and games being played!).
But the down side is when we do get on wifi there is so much to do as far researching next stops, book ferries, apply for entry visas, research and book lodging in future countries. There is logging in to home bank accounts and credit cards to make sure all is looking okay and then there is staying in touch over email. So the time on wifi flies by and getting to uploading the blog posts is sporadic at best. But there you have it, the good and the bad.
And yes, this is only being written in the beautiful calm that comes with three kids being plugged into a screen :-)
more great writing and thinking, the kind that comes with being disconnected from the routine and familiar of one's own culture/life. thanks! also, one favor: ask Leo to send me a message about what form of lard he uses to start the beans. I remember the process from watching him but can't remember what pork serves as the base and lard for the pinto beans...belly? bacon? other???
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