Tags: Communication Breakdown

I was last in Singapore in 1994 with a backpack on my back and my only real means of communication being post restante. Basically my family and friends would send letters to the main post office I’d be visiting and I’d pop off to collect the not so new news. I hear the young cries of disbelief what NO smart phones, NO email, NO facebook, NO Twitter. That’s right once a month I’d call home (from a payphone) and the rest was just LETTERS.

My 2011 trip was utterly different I video skyped my daughter and partner every single day and I had constant access to my email, but was it enough? OK I’m a new Mum and my daughter is only 9 months old and this was the first time I had left her ever!!! BUT I demanded that my partner skyped me every day. As I reflect on my two vastly different trips I’m starting to ask why we demand such instant communication and if the vast and varied communication methods on offer actually make us better partners, mothers and friends. Or are we just talking more frequently in bite sized amusing chunks?

People watching is always fascinating, especially in different cities, I spent quite a bit of time watching audience arrive at The Esplnade, and YES it was a regular sight to see a couple texting / tweeting as they walked hand in hand. But “The couple corner” was also alive and kicking where young couples would sit holding hands, heads tilted towards each other and of course the obligatory staring into each other’s eyes. These couples didn’t need to talk, tweet or text they were communicating like all new couples communicate, without words. So even in the high tech Singaporean world, the old fashioned communication of LOVE is still very much alive and kicking, even if they did meet through Facebook….

And here I am today sitting in the office the day after Valentines Day about to start work on Communication Breakdown and I can categorically state that LOVE is well and truly in the air at MBD towers. (Which is not terribly helpful when making Communication Breakdown!!!!). So as I try to ignore the loved up members of MBD I’m reminded of just how quickly things can change. YES Singapore has changed, YES communication has changed but we’ve also changed. One minute we’re making our loved ones home made presents and the next we’re filing for divorce. And on that depressing note I think I’m ready to start writing some text for Communication Breakdown.