Admit it. You’re a slave to technology. It’s OK, there’s nothing to be ashamed of. It’s just something that is becoming increasingly obvious as new technological advances emerge and are adopted into your cannon of gadgets.

This observation is particularly apt during springtime, when college students disperse to various continents and beach resorts to plague locals and employees around the clock. In the middle of all this debauchery, it’s more than safe to say we’ll all be maintaining contact with friends, family and even potential employers.

The charm of distance is officially 6 feet under. In a ‘video-killed-the-radio-star’ type of transition, snail mail has been replaced by phone calls, phone calls by e-mail, e-mail by text, text by BBM and so on. Distance is no longer a factor of separation. Despite the fact that hundreds or even thousands of miles may separate individuals, the only real change is the actual physical placement.

Whether you’re going on Spring Break in Mexico, Spain, Ecuador or Rome, you can virtually travel back home by implementing one of seemingly endless modes of communication.

Many people opt to go with the old reliable cell phone. Most European countries and vacation resorts offer the option of ‘renting’ a cell phone. Often, they will even rent it to you for free if you book far enough in advance. Too good to be true? Yep.

Sure, the allure of the free cell phone is appealing, but beware: It is a sneaky façade. These companies graciously do not charge for incoming calls or texts, but each text you send will run about 50 cents, depending on the company, and the variations on outgoing call rates are great but are all fairly steep. That phone you rented for free in Barcelona, Spain, to text your sister just ended up costing you as much as that weeklong Vespa rental you had your eye on.

For those who can implement great self-control, this is a good system to use. Friends and family at home can buy a calling card and call your phone with no charge for you. However, you may find it difficult to refrain from drunk-texting that attractive native you met on the beach. So long, Vespa.

Another popular manner of achieving overseas communication is the Internet. E-mail, Facebook and AOL Instant Messenger can all keep you spring-breakers in the loop. Considering that most college students traveling to Europe stay in hostels and those traveling to island destinations implement an open-door policy, it’s doubtful that traveling with a laptop or PDA would be advisable. Sure, it’s convenient, but when a pickpocket has your phone or a thief gets your laptop, it may not seem so handy anymore.

So if you don’t want to break the bank or lose one of your favorite gadgets this Spring Break, just leave the gadgets at home. Live a little and experience how your parents partied when they went on Spring Break. Although you may be a self-admitted slave to technology, break the bonds a little and use your hotel or hostel’s wired phone for a change. I promise that although they may look a tad silly, they still work.

Jessica Smith is a dual information management and technology and television, radio and film major. If you’re going on Spring Break and try to contact her at jlsmit22@syr.edu, she’ll know you didn’t actually ready this article. Rude.
 

Published on March 10, 2010 at 12:00 pm