Observing life: The holes in the net

Life can be difficult for a new arrival in a country far from home, but it helps if those left behind can master the rudiments of e-mail.

I am a relative newcomer to the UAE. It was a mere six months ago that I tossed aside my winter coats and boots, packed up my belongings and bid many a teary goodbye to friends and family. I arrived in Dubai excited, emotionally exhausted and ready to face that onslaught of summer heat that I'd heard so much about but was nonetheless sure I could handle. Needless to say, I got it wrong and have spent the past few months at the mercy of the air-conditioning.

As the weeks ticked by the inevitable pangs of homesickness began to set in. Not that I wanted to leave - far from it. But I just longed to hear from my nearest and dearest and to be updated with their news. As soon as an internet connection was installed in my flat I embarked on an email odyssey and was soon receiving messages from friends in various locations all over the world. My family, however, remained quiet.

My parents have never been the most technologically minded people. Our cumbersome old PC has largely been left to gather dust in the corner of the office since my sister and I left home. Still, I remained convinced that in order to communicate with their firstborn they'd surely steel themselves and get internet-savvy. As time passed, and my frustration grew, it became clear that perhaps this wasn't going to be the case.

Some time later and after a few testy texts from my end, a more computer-literate friend (also with expat offspring) set about giving them a crash course in the ways of the World Wide Web. And we were off… sort of. Dial-up (remember that?) leaves a lot to be desired and I'm told that the service frequently cuts out mid-message. This may not seem like a big deal, but then you haven't witnessed the painstaking speed at which my father types. I gather that they have developed a routine whereby he sits at the computer and my mother dictates a message while putting in her rollers in preparation for an evening out. Domestic bliss indeed.

Still, I'm just thrilled that we're in constant contact and have now turned my attention to a rather remiss little sister. A recent move to London, post-graduation, has apparently drained her of all disposable income and she tells me (via handwritten letter, no less) that an internet connection in her house is a payday dream away. As that date fast approaches I shall resume my campaign and I'm sure we'll be emailing back and forth in no time.