Just a twenty-something and an iPad
This article is a part of the Writing with Thumbs project – a year-long look at iPad apps and accessories that support writing. Read more about the project here.
I just had to take the typical tourist photo. Fun Fact: Big Ben is actually the name of the bell inside the tower, not the tower itself.
My mom bought our first home desktop computer when I was about five-years-old and for a majority of its life it sat in the computer hutch, copletely untouched. No one could figure out how to use the bulky machine…until I found it. Thus began a beautiful friendship. From the tender age of five, my parents have always believed that I am a wiz-kid who can explain any of their computer questions, but truthfully, I’m the only one brave enough to keep hittng buttons until something clicks.
The Learning Hasn’t Ended…
Thankfully, I’ve fine-tuned most of my random button clicking, and I’ve picked a major centered around technology. As a communications student, I’m constantly being reminded that I need to stay up to date with the latest and greatest. I can almost guarantee that at any point during the day I’ll have my phone, tablet, camera, or laptop on me—sometimes even all four. Using technology has become such a part of daily life that it feels like an extension of myself, and even though I’m still learning, having a life in the virtual world feels just as natural as living in the physical world.
…But the Adventure Has Begun!
As a twenty-something who loves to travel, technology has become my way of staying connected to home. I can be in college in North Carolina, but with a quick “Skype date” it feels like I’m at my family dinner back in Los Angeles. I love to tell a good story, but I love it even more when I can show my family a picture or video—even if my mom wasn’t so pleased when I showed her the video of me jumping off a 51-foot waterfall. Life isn’t anything short of adventures, and living in this tech-based world has allowed me the freedom to wander far without feeling lost. Now, I’m even farther from home—roughly 5,500 miles. This semester I’m studying abroad in London, one of the most magical (and rainy) places in the world. It has been an adventure so far—from getting lost on the Underground, to accidentally spending too much money for a not-so-great sandwich, to chatting with elderly British women on the bus home—I couldn’t be more grateful for this experience. That being said, it has been a habit-breaking couple of weeks because of the limited use of my phone due to high international charges and some spotty Wi-Fi connections.
I’m hoping to use the Writing With Thumbs project to enhance my time abroad while still staying connected to the Elon community. As a tech lover, I’m eager to find new ways to involve technology into my everyday life—more than staying up to date with friends and family via social media. I’m looking forward to discovering apps and other resources that coincide with my major, and finding ways that I can keep myself organized and productive throughout my experience in London. I’m excited for the challenge of navigating my way through the sea of apps to find the right ones that fit my lifestyle and needs. My first download will probably be Citymapper, an app that gives transportation directions for major cities, because riding the bus for 30 minutes in the wrong direction (yes, I did it) should be crossed off my bucket list once and for all!
Cheers and other British things,
Aurora Albi-Mercier
Follow
Aurora Albi-Mercier
Who knows what I'll end up doing later on in life, but for now I'm just a twenty-something who likes to be busy and wants to learn yoga. I'm also trying to teach myself to love tea... (but I have to admit, I prefer a good cup o' joe.)
Follow Me:
Comments are closed.