INTERNET ADDICTION

(I wrote this while my parents, cousin, and I were still in Rome. I've since updated from Bolzano).

Never has it been so evident that the four of us are internet dependent. Whenever we had a live wifi signal, the four of us are on our iOS devices... having to go without internet access in our apartment in Rome has been an adjustment. Granted, we've needed it for some important reasons as well, but overall, I think after walking all day with each other, we enjoyed the respite and excuse to withdrawal to our own virtual corner of cyberspace.

*update*

Having booked a hotel in Bolzano, I assumed there would be wifi. Of course I was wrong. No big deal-- I'll find a cafe with wifi signal. Well, I found the cafe, but can't access the wifi. So now all I can depend on is the local internet cafe. It's really the last place I want to be. Hot, stuffy, in the basement level -- at least at a cafe, I can be street side, people watching, enjoying a cappacino and connecting back home all at the same time.

I know that it's probably good for me to unplug for a bit. And usually, I don't have a problem with it. But I suppose I had an expectation that Italy would be wirelessly proficient like the US. What I have come to realize is that if you have a cell phone here, you're fine. But if you don't, then your link/tether/leash/chain to your real life back home is severed significantly.