Skype

I would like to take this opportunity to inform you all of a new program called Skype. It's pretty new (and Oprah listed it as one of her favorite things so, Mom and Dad, you may already be familiar with it) but I used it for the first time last night and it is AMAZING!!!

Basically, your internet acts as your phone line and your computers act as your phone. If you both have webcams (which I do but which I have not figured out how to enable yet...)you can have what is basically a video conference with the person. If you do not have a web cam you can talk through the speakers in your computer. I had never heard of skype until I arrived here, and since then I've heard of it from 15 people. I was skeptical until last night when I called my friend Weronika in Hokkaido, Japan yesterday. It was so freaking cool. We both just basically sit, talking at our computers but I could her voice as clearly as if it was on the phone. Also, it's completely free.

You can call other computers who have skype ( you make an id...mine is Nutmeg876541...and then you just look the person up via their id) Or, you can call landlines. It costs to call cell phones, but the other two choices are free.

I know I've been calling you all with a calling card, but if anybody's daring enough to try this program go to skype.com and download the software. It's free!