28 of 31 - SOLSC 2021
"Have you ever read the picture book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day?" I inquired.
"No, but we watched the movie," she responded.
"I suppose the 'even in Australia' line doesn't land quite the same when you are Australian."
"No. It doesn't."
This got me thinking.
"Outer Mongolia" no longer seemed far off when we considered a job offer in Ulaanbaatar. Timbuktu isn't unimaginable when you have friends who live in Mali.
"No, but we watched the movie," she responded.
"I suppose the 'even in Australia' line doesn't land quite the same when you are Australian."
"No. It doesn't."
This got me thinking.
"Outer Mongolia" no longer seemed far off when we considered a job offer in Ulaanbaatar. Timbuktu isn't unimaginable when you have friends who live in Mali.
The world is so small when you are an expat. Not only have I walked a mile with lots of different people, I have heard the stories of even more.
The world may be small, but when borders shut down, flights are grounded, and airports cease to operate the miles stretch once again.
And then technology shrinks it again. I am so thankful for chats and emails, video calls and messaging. This year would have been much more difficult without it. (Forget about school and work for the moment.)
The world may be small, but when borders shut down, flights are grounded, and airports cease to operate the miles stretch once again.
And then technology shrinks it again. I am so thankful for chats and emails, video calls and messaging. This year would have been much more difficult without it. (Forget about school and work for the moment.)
What about air mail? There were times that even mail became difficult because flights were not operating, therefore cargo was impacted. With the Ever Given blocking the Suez we are reminded that ships still contribute to the movement of goods, though I don't know of any mail that travels via ship any more.
I am comfortable with ambiguity; the world is small and extraordinarily large - all at the same time.
I am comfortable with ambiguity; the world is small and extraordinarily large - all at the same time.
Love your perspective and your conclusion, "he world is large and small at the same time!" For all of us, this year has been a reminder to embrace technology to bridge distance and connect, even if you are from Australia!
ReplyDeleteThe world is, indeed, large and small at the same time. Lately, I've also thought a lot about how much more time was involved in getting things done. I try to remind myself, every day, that as we move forward in time, the world gets a little smaller and things that took forever to get done, get done much more quickly. Thanks so much for this Slice!
ReplyDeleteI loved the shrinking and expanding of the world in perspective. Large and small at the same time.. and sometimes in quick succession.
ReplyDelete“Then technology shrinks it again.” Not too sure a blessing in disguise, or just a disguise.
ReplyDelete