[joshboyd88]

hello to all,

I am a freelance writer and am currently doing research to determine how the internet has impacted the lives of expatriates. how has it transformed your experience, lifestyle, and or career? i am very interested in what you have to say and would love to communicate with a few articulate individuals i could use for my piece. how has the internet affected you?

thank you for listening and taking time out to respond or generate discussion.

josh boyd

[saltwater]

Its been great. Previously I had to spend time at posh bars, talking to people I just wasn't interested in to meet girls. Now I just log onto yahoo and have had a whole string of weird girlfriends. None of them have spoken any English, but hey its nice to sit there and smile at each other for a while.

Its interesting you ask actually because I've actually got a Russian Bride on the way thanks to the Internet. I did what she told me to and wired ten-thousand US bucks to her account so she could pay for the ticket. Strangely enough I haven't heard from her since, but I'm sure she's just busy and will be here any time now.

[Wes]

I have only been an expat for a few months, but I'd be happy to throw in my $0.02.

Top five ways the internet impacts my life as an expat -

1) With VOIP, I have a US phone number so my family can ring me here just as if I was still back in US. I can call there as well, all for around US$20 per month.

2) When a phone conversation is not enough, I turn on my webcam for a family chat so that we can see and hear each other.

3) The internet brings US tv (news, sports, and entertainment) to my screen here. New devices even let expats watch their local news from back home (see: www.slingmedia.com)

4) Blogs keep my family up to date with what I've been doing, and vice versa. This helps us maintain connected with each others lives.

5) Of course, there's the 'old standby,' email. Almost seems low tech by today's standards, but reaching just about anyone across the globe instantly is still an amazing feat.

[Wes]

Doh! I forgot to mention Russian brides!!

[dwaindibbley]

The Only reason I am an Ex-Pat is because of the Internet, I am an engineer and met my GF in HK 5 years ago. the Internet allowed me to pickupup, move here with very little impact on my business. All my colleagues are around the world anyway software is sent electronically, Product is rarely seen anyway and is simply shipped from country A to B. Only thing we need to do is send lots UPS parcels as we can't send matter over the Internet yet, all of Wes's points apply to me too, the UK VoIP access number is great. In my field though the Intrenet has had an even bigger impact, going beyond messenger and VoiP, controlling equipment remotely over the NET is an extremely useful utility, you can almost be THERE!

[Max]

Originally Posted by saltwater

Its been great. Previously I had to spend time at posh bars, talking to people I just wasn't interested in to meet girls. Now I just log onto yahoo and have had a whole string of weird girlfriends. None of them have spoken any English, but hey its nice to sit there and smile at each other for a while.

Its interesting you ask actually because I've actually got a Russian Bride on the way thanks to the Internet. I did what she told me to and wired ten-thousand US bucks to her account so she could pay for the ticket. Strangely enough I haven't heard from her since, but I'm sure she's just busy and will be here any time now.

LOL! funny stuff, Salty....

[robg]

The internet allows hours of entertainment whilst at 'work'....

[kirlex]

Originally Posted by joshboyd88

to determine how the internet has impacted the lives of expatriates. how has it transformed your experience, lifestyle, and or career?

That questions is impossible for most of us to answer because we have never been expatriates without the internet. Maybe ask some of the over 35s, they might have a better answer as they were old enough to work in the early 90s without the internet.

That being said, the internet is a great tool to goof off at work, and I can watch all the tv shows I would miss at home.

[KnowItAll]

>> Maybe ask some of the over 35s, they might have a better answer as they were old enough to work in the early 90s without the internet.

My internet access dates back to 88-89.

[vmlinuz]

Originally Posted by KnowItAll

My internet access dates back to 88-89.

Damn! I only go back to about 93/94 and I thought I was an old-timer...