Are We in Indonesia Yet? by Nicholas

      I’ve heard it said that you have to learn some language by a very early age—say, four or five or six—or you will never be able to learn any language. And once you learn any language, you can, theoretically, learn any other language. Of course, most of us have sat through enough Spanish, French and German classes to know that that part of the theory is questionable. The point is that one’s brain must develop its language capacity early in life or it is lost forever, that part of your brain just won’t grow.

      I sometimes feel that way regarding what is usually referred to as “technology,” meaning computers and all their spawn, i.e., iPads, tablets, nooks, kindles, iPhones, 3G, 4G, and, OMG, I don’t know how many other devices or apps. Though I am at least primitively computer literate, I fear that whole new languages are now in common use about which I know nothing. And it may be too late for my aging brain to learn them.

      Over the years I’ve worked through a number of stages in my personal relationship with technology. I’ve passed through the stage of computers being interesting, useful, or even wondrous in their capabilities. I’ve passed through the stage of thinking, OK, that’s enough—I can write, cut & paste, send emails, crop photos, research questions, and get on You Tube. I am tempted toward the stage of concluding that computers are really a nuisance and I might just one day re-boot the thing out the door. But then, emails are very useful and where else does one find porn these days?

      Now I am entering the stage of more or less panic that if I don’t make some big technological leap I will be left behind like a blacksmith on an automobile assembly line. Skilled but irrelevant. I do know some basics of computer literacy, but…  Well, the fact that I’m using the word “computer,” which nobody uses now, given the array of devices available, shows how far behind the times I have sunk. My fear is that I will not be able to learn the new language of the moment—they seem to change quickly—and I will be left unable to communicate with anyone in the world.

      But rapidly mutating technology is just one of the ways in which I am coming to feel like a stranger in my own land. Culture shock is getting to be a daily occurrence. Most all pop culture from music to television shows is a mystery to me. The obsession with money dismays me. The fondness for states of unreality whether drug or television or church induced leaves me alienated. And the poisonous and paralyzed political milieu is depressing.

      I was once in a workshop of writers and a woman author gave a lengthy description of her process in writing an essay. An idea will come to her, she said, and she will mull it over for a while which can be anywhere from a few hours to months. Then, she’ll jot down some notes as the idea expands and facets of it come into view. Eventually, she will organize her notes and develop nuances of her argument or narrative. At some point, she will compose all these thoughts into a coherent essay.

      I thought, that’s me alright and all the other dinosaurs still roaming the earth. Doesn’t she—don’t we—realize that NOBODY DOES THAT ANYMORE!!?  This leisurely process of developing your thoughts to explore nuance, is so 20-years-ago. One doesn’t pause to think things through or just walk around with an idea until it jells or makes sense. Today, if a thought ever dares to enter your head, you must get it out, like a virus, as quickly as possible before it takes root and grows into who knows what. You spit it out as fast as you can on your blog or text it to your million friends on Facebook. Keep paddling around in the shallow water because you have no idea of what might be out there in the depths. Could be something bigger than you.

      It seems that what’s on the surface is thought sufficient, no need to get below the shiny surface. I remember in grade school one day we learned how to diagram a sentence. I learned how sentences were put together and acquired another tool to express myself. I thought, this is power, knowing this gives me power. I know more about using my language. Now, sentences are no longer diagrammed. In fact, they’re hardly even used. What use is a sentence when you have only 140 characters to say everything. But then, why would you need more than 140 characters anyway?

      I guess I just don’t know this place anymore. I’m a stranger in my own country. I feel like I’m in a country I don’t know, don’t understand, and actually don’t like. I might as well be in Indonesia or somewhere.

About the Author

Nicholas grew up in Cleveland, then grew up in San Francisco, and is now growing up in Denver. He retired from work with non-profits in 2009 and now bicycles, gardens, cooks, does yoga, writes stories, and loves to go out for coffee.