Aussie homesickness and the cyber-age

FRIENDS, open spaces, good coffee and the sun are just some of the things I miss from home, but at the very top of the list are my parents. I would have never pictured myself, at age 26, wanting so badly to hug them.

Whenever I am homesick they’re the ones I long for most. Mum’s roast lamb, an Aussie beer with dad and a big hug from the both of them would be enough to cure the pain. But with all that in mind, I still manage to get frustrated with them regularly.

It seems that while distance makes the heart grow fonder, it does nothing for that love-hate family relationship. Each time we Skype I seem to lose my cool with them. Harsh but true.

But seriously, after 18 months of regular Skype sessions you’d think they would have worked out the camera. Not so.
Each time they log on I endure the same process.

“Hi Shan,” my parents say, cheerfully.

“Hi. I can’t see you,” I reply in my calmest voice.

“Hmmm. That’s weird,” Dad says, surprised, like it’s never happened before. “Alright, let me have a look … How about now?”

“Nope,” I say, knowing damn well it’ll be a good while before they work it out.

“Oh, bloody thing!” Dad curses.

Meanwhile, my frustration grows and my tolerance fades almost entirely. By the time they finally appear on my screen I’ve just about had enough.

“Gosh, why does this happen every time?!” I say angrily.

“Don’t get angry,” my parents reply.

And of course, I am filled with guilt.

I know I shouldn’t become frustrated with them so quickly. After all, I miss them like crazy and I’m always hanging out to talk to them. And sitting at my laptop, waiting for them to work out how to use Skype (again) simply adds fuel to the homesick fire.

But at the end of the day they’re still my parents, and parents can drive you mad, even when you’re living in a different time zone.

So, even though it isn’t Father’s Day in Australia on Sunday, it is in the UK. Maybe I should use it as an excuse get in touch.

But perhaps I’ll call them rather than bother with Skype.

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