Dana Dillon is a student at University of Nebraska, Lincoln and an ISA Featured Blogger. She is currently studying abroad with ISA in Gold Coast, Asutralia.
Being from the generation that is said to be consumed by technology, I humbly admit that I am one of many that seem to always be on their phone. Back home it is such a norm to be on your phone at all times that I did not really think much of it when I came to Australia. Assuming that individuals here would be just at consumed by technology as the rest of the world, I was greatly mistaken.
After my first night out in the Gold Coast I came home to find my Safari web browser brought up on my phone, and in the search bar it said, “get off your phone.” Completely taken aback by this statement, I thought back into the night, and what I had encountered earlier. Realizing I had a conversation with a local at the bar my roommate and I decided to check out, I vaguely remember him taking my phone. I didn’t really think much of it at the time. Like I said earlier, coming from a culture that is so consumed with technology, I could not even remember what I had been doing that night, or that he would type that statement out in my phone.
After that incident I have been more aware I suppose, of the people around me and the amount of time they spend on their forms of technology. From the cell phones people hold in their hands while walking, to watching Netflix for hours on end, it seems that everywhere one looks it is easy to see how technology has consumed our culture. Regardless of where you are in the world, you will come across a student like me, who seems unable to step away from technology.
My point is, that even though I love what technology has done for our culture, maybe it is time for all of us to take a step back and realize that maybe it is time to put the phone down. Maybe we need to limit how much Netflix we watch a day. Maybe we simply just need to not have headphones in as we walk around or take the bus. It does not take much to discover what the world could be like if we just limit how much technology we actually use. Being here in Australia has taught me that much. I plan on making the most of my time here, and if that means having to give up Netflix for awhile, I am willing to take that chance, no matter how hard it might seem.
The world awaits…discover it.