F2F Still Happening!

admin — Sun, 22 Feb 2009 18:32:57 +0000

New Media is great – it is convenient – it broadens all of our communications in a global way for business, friendships and developing new contacts. It gives us a way to communicate, to inform, to educate and often to touch the heart in a compelling way. My business is New Media and I teach New Media as one form of communication. BUT it is comforting to remember that F2F communication is still the best! I was reminded of this last week in a wonderful way during my trip to Ireland. This is a country of contrasts. Ireland is well known for high tech business development AND village life. It is a country that cherishes the F2F relationships found in the local pubs, the soccer field (they call it football), the church and at the corner store. It is a country that has, in many ways, preserved the art of F2F relationships – the ones that really count in life – the ones that make us smile – the ones that make us cry with joy – and the ones that are most memorable. It doesn’t take a computer, or a blog entry, or a video or a podcast to appreciate a conversation with an old friend, or a complete stranger in the small villages I visited such as Carna, IRE – a remote, Irish-only speaking village north of Galway City. A quick story about an Irishwoman named Winnie at the corner store in Carna amidst the Irish countryside. While Winnie and I didn’t speak the same language and although we lead very different lives, we were able to communicate, struggling a bit with a few common words, but in the end, sharing a smile. This happened over and over across Ireland – in Connemara, County Cork (from which my ancesters emigrated), Limerick, Cobh, Kilarney, a tiny village called Inse on the Dingle Peninsula and the lovely Kinvara. Strangers became new friends instantly (with a few pints) and best of all, the experiences of Ireland created memories of a lifetime with F2F conversations I had with my two sons, Garrett & Ian during this adventure. Most days we text, email and talk on our mobiles to stay in touch. In this trip, they learned more about me and I learned more about them while we shared the experiences that each of us will cherish forever. We took the time to talk F2F with the old Irishman in the pub who welcomed the Yanks to his village as well as the musician on the sidewalk of Cork and the little Irish girls giggling on their way to school. And that’s what really counts in the end.

New Media Prof Blog » Ireland

F2F Still Happening!