Greetings from Kuwait! This weekend, I am leaving Saudi Arabia where I have lived and worked for the last 14 months and returning ‘home’ to Panama. I specifically referred to my time in Saudi to create this map; I know my Web presence in Panama will be quite different.
Despite being a private person, this task has made me realize the extent to which I use the Web as a ‘Resident’ to share information with my family, friends, and colleagues about life and work. I regularly use the Web as “a place in which relationships can be formed and extended” (White & LeCornu, 2011) as most of my friends, family and colleagues – even my husband – live in different countries from me at the moment. Many of my friends and colleagues live similar lifestyles as global citizens. I am curious how many of us chose this lifestyle because we are comfortable being Web ‘Residents’, using the Web as an extension of our offline relationships, and how many remain ‘Visitors’ or perhaps reluctant ‘Residents’ (and, if so, to what extent) to maintain offline relationships.
White, David S., and LeCornu, A. (2011). “Visitors and residents: A new typology for online engagement.” First Monday. 16(9). doi:10.5210/fm.v16i9.3171.
I like that you qualified the fact that your map is based on your experience in Saudi Arabia. It made me realize that our online footprint is different based on our current living arrangements and what is happening in our lives. How do you feel your map will change once you land in Panama?
I also find that I have certain friends that I communicate with primarily online; however, I do find that we still want to connect face-to-face since the relationship was created in an offline environment. These relationships live in a place that moves from online to offline and back again with ease.
I have found this activity very enlightening.
Hi Kathy,
My digital presence has certainly changed depending on what country I’m in, not only because of the country’s culture, language, allowances and restrictions, but also because of the job/life I had and the technology available during those years.
The biggest changes from my Visitor-Resident map in Saudi versus Panama will be less dependence on Google translate as I am significantly more proficient in Spanish than Arabic. My use of WhatsApp in Panama will be more proficient as it is the collaboration tool of choice even for businesses. Thirdly, I am unlikely to use imo and telegram – collaboration tools I used in Saudi to aid privacy and circumvent periodic bans on Skype and WhatsApp calling. Also, while I depended on Uber and Careem (a Middle Eastern Uber equivalent) for transportation in Saudi – especially before the ban on women drivers was lifted in June 2018 – I have a car here in Panama as no transportation network companies exist in my region.
All of these changes influence both my personal and professional lives. It is interesting how the culture shock of moving to a new country has now extended to the digital world.
Sherry