Facebook Birthdays

I know this may seem like a weird thing to ramble about, but being 5 hours ahead of the States can cause some serious confusion. Since I am a college student, and therefore don’t really think of sleeping until at least after one in the morning, there are obviously moments after I’ve finished studying when I go on facebook to chat it up with my buds (you can believe that bit about studying or not, it’s usually true). I will admit facebook has become an amazing source of communication for not only my friends back in the States, but for my new friends here in London as well. Especially since most of our mobiles are pay as you go, using the facebook chat actually saves us a lot of money compared to texting all the time. We also have created different groups and such to help plan events so that we can see more of London and really take advantage of our time here.

On another note, though, birthdays have become a problem. Not those in London, I can say those the moment I notice it’s after midnight here. Yet I’ve realized I find myself fretting over when it changes and tells me friends who are behind me as far as time is concerned. Naturally, I wish to say Happy Birthday to all of my dear friends as soon as possible, but at the same time, I don’t want to seem silly and wish them well five hours ahead of everyone else! It’s just terribly taboo to be ever so early. Instead, I have come to waiting until the next day, when I can check and make sure at least one other person has ventured forward and sent their birthday wish to the special person, and I can then know for certain it’s time somewhere for me to write on the wall.

As I said, it’s an odd thing to worry about, but I suppose you can say worrying about the five hour gap has become a regular occurrence. Every time I chat with any of my friends or family from home, the question of time always appears. It’s almost odd if one of us doesn’t at least ask what time it is there (wherever that may be). I’ve come to the point that the time difference seems more like what is keeping me from my loved ones than the miles, the culture or even that silly ocean thing in the way.  Thanks to the internet, I can still keep in contact with them, especially with Skype, which even allows me to see their faces and gives me the chance to really confuse my dog back home. Yet the time difference hovers over every conversation and every chat like death over someone on their deathbed. It gives certain restraints that don’t really exist when I’m at least in the same time zone.I never would have thought of this when I was getting ready to come to London. Of all the things to make me feel far from home, time is the main culprit.