A Brave New World--Technology, Skype, Love, and Kazakhstan

It’s a brave new world and I can prove it. One of our sons met a young lady at the University of Alabama. He’s from Florida. She is from Kazakhstan. As in the Republic of Kazakhstan. As in the Russian/Chinese neighborhood. Like … not around the corner. Nowhere near.

They fell in love. She soon had to go home. They didn’t want to be apart and in, oh, maybe the last month, we learned they were getting married. In Kazakhstan. We were invited, but that’s not the sort of thing where you hop online, buy a ticket, pack your bags, and run to the airport. Especially if you don’t have a passport, and your husband’s is expired.

Plans may have suffered a bit in translation. They were made in Kazakhstan, in their language. We got intermittent details. So it was a mishmash when the phone rang last night—they’re eleven hours ahead—about a wedding today. Today for us, anywho. For them … tomorrow. We continued to try and call back into the night but the call wouldn’t go through. This morning, Hubby had to go out early for an issue which couldn’t be put off. An out-of-town’er was here for a business deal. When our phone rang at 9 AM, a heavily accented woman’s voice said she was a translator. Richard couldn’t be on the phone since he was “outside having a wedding.” An hour later, Richard called, asking me to get on Skype and watch the reception.

I’ve used Skype—with my wonderful Three Wise Girls buddies—but never video. I didn’t know my laptop had video. Shows how techno-aware I am. Hubby walked in then; between us, we got it. Should’ve seen my face when I saw video on my laptop! Should’ve seen my face since, thanks to the hoopla, I wasn’t wearing make-up. Not good since we had to toast the lovely couple—with soda—and on camera for wedding party and guests. We chatted with bride and groom and her parents … via translator (except for Richard).

That took up the morning. Hubby and I learned about Kazakhstan and a new culture. Mastered Skype in a big way. Then went out and bought a videocam and spent the afternoon playing with grandkids—in California. Now that I’m a pro with this techno stuff … she says with tongue firmly planted in cheek … I’m jumping into the brave new world to use knowledge for business as well as family fun. It came at me real fast and I’m going to embrace it the same way. Three Wise Girls … Debbie and Dori—I feel SO sorry for you!!