Week 5: Skype

Around town people are always asking me how my son is doing in Sweden. We had several fund raisers and a couple articles in the newspaper, so even if people casually know our family, they will ask about him. A lot of the time they also ask if I miss him. Of course I miss him terribly, but I'm so thrilled that he is getting to experience a different culture, new families and meeting friends from all over the world that I don't wish him home one single day before he needs to be back here :)

One reason it doesn't feel like he is so far away, is because of Skype. For anyone who doesn't know about it, you can go to www.skype.com and download a simple software for free... then talk to anyone in the world, face-to-face in real time on your computer for no cost at all! It's terrific!  No waiting around for the mailman, hoping for a letter.

This is one of our "conference calls" on Skype. My son in Sweden on the left, my son on our laptop in his bedroom at home on the right, and me at the bottom on our desk top computer in the dining room taking the picture. We all chatted with each other and it was great we could all see each other. Their laptops had built-in cameras, but we had to purchase an external camera for a little over $30 at Wal-Mart that uses a USB plug-in for the desk top. Great for grandparents and far-away friends and family. Check it out!  :)