I stepped off the plane from my amazing semester abroad in Italy and wondered, “Am I ever going to see or speak to any of them again? Will I be able to stay in contact?”
As soon as I arrived home, I sat down at my computer, logged on to MSN Messenger, and added my new international friends’ screen names to my buddy list. We were all instantly connected, just as we were in Florence days before.
The world becomes smaller and smaller, and time zones become essentially transposable, thanks to intercultural technologies like MSN Messenger, Yahoo Messenger, AIM, Skype and Facebook. With such communication media, people can easily build cross-cultural relationships for social and business purposes and studying abroad.
“There’s no distance in MSN,” said 23-year-old Dimitri Karanikolas. “Actually, because of technology, people are closer than they might think.”
Accordingly, Dimitri lives six hours away in the Netherlands, yet is only seconds away through an instant message. He uses MSN and Yahoo Messengers, Facebook and Hi5! (the European Facebook) for socializing and maintaining his international relationships.
“I’m in contact with all of my friends, and they are from all over the world,” said Dashamir Seti, 25, from Italy. “Most of them are from the U.S., Canada, Albania, Italy, Sweden, England, Mexico, Spain, Hungary, Russia, Greece and Colombia.”
My study abroad roommates, University at Buffalo senior Jacquelyn De Jesu and Canisius senior Kerry Wallin, also used these communication media to build cross-cultural relationships. Before arriving in Florence for their spring semester, they were invited to join Florence Facebook groups from fellow study abroad students and Florentine club promoters. People posted their numbers and AIM, MSN and Yahoo screen names on group message boards and contacted each other as soon as they arrived.
However, Europeans and study abroad students are not the only ones using these technologies for everyday social and business purposes. JMU Office of International Programs networks through these media, as well.
“Obviously technology has greatly affected us in all areas, and international communication is no exception,” said Study Abroad Advisor Kelly Poppen. “Through technology, students are able to register for their JMU courses from overseas, and they have instant access to their families and the JMU/OIP staff.”
Thomas Lavenir, assistant director of International Student and Scholar Services, uses communication technologies to work with international students as well. “Since I have been working at JMU [January 2004] I have created MSN, Yahoo and AIM accounts, and one in particular that was definitely work related,” he said, referring to his AIM screenname, internationaljmu. International students have used this device to communicate with him instantaneously.
Indeed, the entire world currently communicates with these technical innovations. Users can now instant message, email, view web cams, have live conversations and use chat transcript archives to retrieve conversations from previous years.
For some, the cost-savings are the main reasons for using these technologies, but for others, the features and the personal aspects the media bring are more appealing.
Intercultural technologies have undeniably changed the world of relationships and communication. Not only have my international friends and I kept in touch, but also we have successfully sustained our relationships and remain in close contact today.
Eleni Menoutis is a senior SMAD an marketing major.
