“Serving overseas as a small-town boy from America is intense, stressful and humorous! Enjoy a light-hearted story with me from our last 20 years overseas!”
—Matt
A thing of the past and present
It is hard for young people to imagine living in a world not connected by the internet. However, our first years living overseas were without websites and e-mail for the most part and in many ways it made life simpler and more uncertain.
I remember getting a call from another American couple living in the same city as us. They were calling to tell us that the news seemed to indicate an attack in America. It was September 11, 2001. We turned on the TV, but that country like many almost seemed to give the impression in the news reports that the USA was getting what it deserved.
We were caught in a situation of where to get reliable news. I knew what to do. I drove down to our city’s main retail district and went to our largest department store’s electronics department. I bought a short-wave radio. It cost $125, which seemed like an astronomical amount for a radio.
I took it home and learned to tune it, the best hours to receive a clear signal (night) and the direction to aim the antenna (North Africa). Like many Americans over the decades, Voice of America, was our source to get information about our country during that pivotal time. I spent many evenings over the next weeks on a balcony of our apartment getting the latest news.
Well, like many new gadgets, that short-wave radio was used less and less as the internet became prevalent and web based news sources. Fifteen year later I realized I had not listened to anything on that gadget in years, so I put it up for sale. I put the selling price as the same amount that I originally bought it for, $125, to have lots of negotiating room. Soon after I got a call from a British man who ran an English-speaking radio station in the area. He said short-wave radios were near impossible to find any more. He gladly bought the radio for the full price.
I have noticed that young people now want vinyl records or old cassette players to decorate their bedrooms. It seems even old technology items have their come around. Did I tell you that I have VHS player for sale?
Something similar ever happen to you? Contact me and let me hear your story!
Matt’s Mishaps, PO BOX 114, Grabill, IN 46741
