The invention of the Internet has brought our world together in ways nobody could have predicted even 20 years ago. Being overseas no-longer means that you are out of touch with home. Each night I spend time "chatting" with friends and family in many parts of the world. This and email have probably reduced my culture-shock more than anything. Last night was my weekly online Bible study with a missionary in central Venezuela using IM. I'm not sure if I could survive any more without a connected computer.