My mother, who lives in a small town surrounded by banana plantations and rice paddies, and whose house is by a street still called Feeder Road 3 (a dirt road), has a laptop with a wifi connection. She can't figure out how everything works just yet so she's usually on the cellphone with her techsavvy nieces and nephews to ask them where the heck the "internet connection picture" is. We talk/see through Skype -- and this technology has helped her a lot in connecting with Lakandula and Lakambini, her grandkids, and me, of course. This is only the second week doing this so our conversation usually sounds like this:
(Lola is calling -- the computer is ringing)
Lakandula: I'll get it...where's the pointer, Mom? Is this it? Mom, is this it? Mom?
SoccerNanay: Yes.
Lakandula: This? Why can't I use the other one? What does this do? It's too loud!
SN: Answer the phone! Use that key -- the other one won't work.
L: How come it's too loud. What does this do?
SN: Answer the darn phone, Lakandula.
Lola: Hello? Can you see me now? Lakandula hillo? Can you see me?
SN: No, your video is not on.
Lola: Where the heck is the video picture here? Is it this square picture here? This one?
SN: I wouldn't know Ma, I can't see what you can see.
Lola: Why is my video not working? Maybe it's your computer....Let me try this. Is it working now? Can you see me now? Hello Lakandula!
SN: No Ma.
Lola: WHy is it not working? How about you do something there on your end to make my video appear. Maybe you're doing something wrong.
SN: Doesn't work that way Mom.
Lola: What do I do? I'm doing what I'm supposed to do. This is what Pedro the internet instructor at the internet cafe said.
SN: I don't know Mom, I can't see what you can see --- and it's not my fault (at this point I accidentally roll my eyes, forgetting that she can see me)...
Lola: What are you doing? WHy are you doing that?
SN: Nothing....
Lola: WHat nothing? Why are you doing that with your eyes. I am just asking a question!!!
SN: Mom, I'm just getting exasperated because I can't help you. Samok uy (You're such a pain)!
Lola hangs up the phone.
She calls again the next day and it the same thing all over again. Maybe 6 more months of this and she can finally figure out how to use her video, and I can finally learn to roll my eyes mentally.
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2 comments:
heehee . . . my mom and dad only live about 15 minutes away on the other side of town, but she does this crazy-funny thing with the cell phone: she hits talk and then dials the # - like you might with a regular landline phone. but with most cell phones if you hit talk, it automatically starts dialing the last number you called. no one can convince her it's the other way around with cell phones! =) dial the number and THEN press talk!!!
but then again she still considers indoor plumbing amazing!
That was the safety you had when we just talked to her on the phone. Come one...you love it...the kids love to talk to lola...and I like talking to her too....I just have to make a few changes. I can't have breakfast in my undershorts. A dude has to have some modesty in front of his mother-in-law.
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