Social Media Starvation

I've been off social media for almost a week now. In Laura's world, a week without having gone on any social media sites is challenging, with the exception of Facebook where I used up 5 precious minutes of my allotted 120 minutes of internet usage to quickly check my page (I couldn't help it).

I would encounter a funny moment and would almost automatically phrase the experience in 140 characters to put on Twitter, or I would see something so picturesque that I'm already thinking of a caption for it when I share it on Instagram. And so far, I've already taken at least 300 photos, all of which I am itching to upload on Facebook. But then I realize I CAN'T. The struggle is real.

It's taking a while, but I'm letting myself be completely okay with this lack of social media interaction. As I've said in one of my previous posts, this might actually be a refreshing experience. It allows me to fully immerse myself in this adventure without any outside distraction, and forces me to truly interact with my fellow SAS-ers personally, and not just through virtual connection.

Not having constant access to Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook also makes me value the art of emailing more. The excitement I used to get from new Facebook notifications, Twitter mentions, and Instagram likes is now the thrill I get upon seeing new messages on my SAS email inbox. Since it literally is my only source of communication with my family and friends, any email I get from them is like gold! I absolutely love reading emails first thing in the morning! I also enjoy writing them, especially when I have a bunch of stories to tell. It's so different trying to share your experience with only your words, than have Facebook photos do the talking.

It feels a lot personal, too, whenever I would read emails from my close friends and learn what they've been up to from the stories they would tell in a long email update. It makes me appreciate the little things so much more, like even just the fact that they took time out of their day to write to me. Aside from my family, it's mostly my Westmo friends whom I've heard from, so if you're my Manila friend, get your act together and email me!!! Lol just kidding..But not really.

I'm hoping to get wifi in a cafe once we get to Germany, though. But until then...sayonara social media!