Sending You Love
Sending a text to a person across the world takes approximately 5 seconds. Communicating with strangers or friends across the globe requires less effort than changing the channel on the TV. Technology has made everything effortless. To know someone is as easy as searching their name on Instagram. To talk to others is as quick as sending a DM or WhatsApp (if you want to be formal). Today, one only has to maintain a conversation for two weeks to be labeled a ligue and send a heart through text to classify it as andar. Words that often took years for one to say, me gustas, te quiero, te amo, are now texted without second-guessing. Everything is as simple as turning on your phone. In this buzz of a world, it seems like love is at a low cupboard, easy for everyone to obtain regardless of the effort or actual desire they have.
Students in our school were surveyed about the role technology plays in their love lives. Their responses left it outstandingly clear that modern romance relies heavily on tech. 65.7% stated social media influenced the way they perceived people. Meanwhile, only three people responded they have been asked out in person. An incredible 87% of people in a relationship claim they use their phones to talk all day every day with their significant other, while 30% of responders confirm to talk more through technology than in person.
Being with someone halfway across the world once seemed impossible, but now, it is more common than ever before. Despite the advantages that technology brings when it comes to communication, human connection will remain key to any couple trying to give it a shot. We interviewed a number of students currently experiencing a long-distance relationship, these were some of their stories.
Testimonies
“We started dating when he was already studying abroad which made the relationship easier because the distance was always a factor, not something new. We get to see each other around once a month, it’s always fun because it gives us an excuse to travel. The key in my relationship has been communication and equal effort from both of us. We have to consider that in order to keep the relationship going, we have to consider each others' feelings and effort. Communication could not happen without technology, FaceTime in particular has been very helpful. We talk most of the day and FaceTime once a day just to feel closer than through a text message. Long distance can be hard and may not be for every couple, but in our particular situation we have found what works for us.”
“At first, the whole situation was really hard on me. I was kind of scared because he was making a new life, going into college, starting to meet new people, while mine stayed the same. I was 15 and went to Faces on the weekends and he would go to antros; we were in very different stages of life. It was hard to stay motivated because it seemed like we were going to be apart for quite a while. Four years sounded like a lot, but they have gone by fast. One thing that I can’t stress enough is the importance of keeping yourself busy while in a long distance relationship. That way, you’re not thinking about it all the time. At the beginning, there were times when I made up ideas in my head or that I heard things from other people and let them affect my relationship. Until I understood that our relationship is between him and me, and if I trust him and he trusts me, that is all that matters.”
“For me, it was easier to start off as a long-distance relationship from the beginning because I always knew that he was going to leave, so I was mentally prepared for that. But when he comes to visit for longer periods of time it affects me a lot more when he goes away. I have learned to tell him everything, even if it’s the simplest thing. People in San Pedro talk a lot, so communicating with him has helped us avoid conflicts. I have also learned that I can still go out and do things and not restrict myself just because he’s not here. The most difficult part is when we have an argument. Even though we’re okay in the end, I always have this feeling that it’s not resolved until I see him, so that’s hard to deal with by just Whatsapping. I feel like personality has a lot to do with being in a long-distance relationship. I couldn’t do it with anyone, but I know that I can trust him and I’m not scared or worried that he’ll do anything over there.”
The transition from letters via mail to Facetime, meeting someone in person to Instagram profiles, and from dinners in the city to online dating indicate that old school relationships are a thing of the past. Technology has created a language of itself. Leaving someone on read might be a sign that they don't want to continue the conversation anymore, asking if they would like to talk on the phone instead of by text might indicate they are interested in taking the relationship to the next level. The fact that not long ago online dating seemed like a crazy idea suggests that romance is drastically changing. Adults may not understand, but for the new generations, technology is clearly a one-way ticket to being in love.