Open your eyes and smell the internet-less fresh air

So this will legitimately be a quick post, unlike my other 'quick' posts which are pages long... As I am currently internet-less, and not to mention in the middle of researching and writing essays for my deadline in exactly 4 weeks. But being without the internet has truly been interesting. You don't realize how much in today's day and age we rely on the internet for everything, especially in a foreign country. The internet is my TV, weather information, phonebook, map, newspaper(s), information for every question or though, international phone, ‘what’s happening’ guide, research guide, radio, cookbook, source of international news, source of popular culture news, lines of communication with everyone, especially Canada, bank, and I’m if I had more time, this list could go on. Needless to say, without the internet, we are totally lost. Literally. I can’t google addresses to get anywhere. We had to walk down the street last night just to google the number for the sushi delivery place. However, now that I have found this lovely bench, about a block away from our flat, it seems almost good again. Almost.

Not a bad view for a hobo internet bench. I don't have to lean up against a random building, feigning forgetting my keys to steal their internet for a few minutes to look something up. I don't have to go buy a 2 euro tiny tiny cup of tea to use the internet for 30 minutes. I don't have to be a hobo sitting on a curb stealing internet with my laptop to look up an article. I can leisurely sit here on this bench once and a while, listening to my iPod and enjoying the view.

Life without the internet or TV at home is an interesting experience. Chavdar and I talk a lot more. We cook more. We sit and enjoy the sun and each others company more. We read more. When I'm alone I sit and stare out the window while eating my breakfast rather than watch some TV. Or read the news I uploaded on my iPod the night before rather than skimming headlines and reading the odd interesting article on my computer. When I want to email someone, I write the odd 'letter' on MS Word, and transfer it to my iPod to email it once I go out later. I don't waste any time on Facebook, and oddly don't miss it. As Chavdar said, like this, you feel more connected to life. Other than the extreme difficulty getting any information of any kind, including research, and the hours spent on the phone with Mobistar trying to get a date when they can come hook it back up, I think this has been a really good experience, and I highly recommend it. Seriously. Try going a week (as that is the amount of time we're at now) without internet or TV. That includes no smartphone, Blackberry or iPod internet either. No DVDs, only the odd movie you have recorded already. On top of reconnecting you with what is important, I think it actually reduces your stress level.