Just Google It
I typically do not consciously identify in my usual day to day life how many times there may be a question pop up that prompts an automatic response to just google it. Whether it’s a useless fact about something that comes up in conversation, or more applicable questions that may solve an immediate problem, we rely on the ability to search, open our favorite apps, or potentially text someone. So how does your mind start to work if that intense ability to learn or ask anything goes away? The conscious lack of connectivity I currently have is teaching me more than I could have expected.
1. Safety needs
Maps, bus times, train routes, and rules are extremely important while traveling. Now that we are in Basque speaking region which is similar but a completely separate and older language than both Spanish and French (which Sarah and I speak respectively), it has become even more critical to dissect our handy dandy physical maps, ask questions when we have an English speaking friend like at our hostel, and try really hard to interpret how to say the stops in case we have to ask a bus driver if we missed it (which in fact we did last night, on nearly the last running bus, at dark...). Needless to say, if I was able to work my phone regularly on data, like when I am home, I wouldn’t have gotten lost, we wouldn’t be as prepared, and we honestly wouldn’t have been as in tuned to what was going on around us. With that however, we have one functioning phone, that we are consulting as little as possible to feel more adventurous in our learning, discovery, and sense of accomplishment when we successfully navigate the streets we’ve never seen and succeed. The number of recommended apps is quite overwhelming. And I do plan on sharing our favorites as we continue along. Number one - you need a map, and the ability to understand where you are.
2. Practical daily needs
I am not sure I even have another source a available to me at home to know things as simple as the weather aside from looking on my app or asking Alexa or Google Home. I also am confident most of these type of inquiries are easy enough to snag on WiFi when it is available and not too critical. Email, checking in to confirm we are safe, and auditing any payments and online activities doesn’t need to happen throughout the day necessarily, so simple connectivity for this is pretty easy. The WiFi signals are sometimes hit or miss which can be frustrating, but it’s reinforcing the need to practice patience and gratitude.
3. Curiosity needs
This is the element of being disconnected I feel the most vulnerable from. I appreciate my innate sense of learning and trying to understand and know more about where I am and what I am seeing, but I hadn’t realized it would impact me this much. I actually become quite disappointed when unable to look up the type of questions I so frequently rely on my bff Google for! The places we have already seen and the rich history are absolutely remarkable. I miss being able to inquire more while in the midst of the statues, monuments, or places we wander. Or learn of the languages, cultures and people at the exact moment we encounter it. Fortunately as I mentioned, we do have one working (data using) phone (for the moment at least) and have met some amazing people willing and ready to help explain earlier last week in French/English, and now in Spanish/English. The kindness and stories shared are endless, and this is just the beginning. I typically end up with a few notes I jot down during the day to be sure I look up in the evenings when connected again. The richness of the culture, and people is fascinating, and the building never cease to amaze me with how old they seem especially in comparison to what history we know of in the States. I hope to retain plenty more for sharing and explaining the diversity of each of these places that will be considered home during all of the stops we make along this journey.
Adios!