Skype Brings Local Family Closer

For Jane Schwartz, traveling to New Zealand to visit her sister’s new baby boy this holiday season wasn’t an option. Not only would the flights be expensive, but a trip such as this would also be too time consuming.

Schwartz, a local resident, said she was still able to “visit” her family from afar thanks to video chatting software like Skype, which The New York Times says in an article is reshaping family traditions during the holidays.

“This is my nephew's fist Christmas, so it will be a special day and video chatting allows the rest of my family and me to witness it,” Schwartz said in an email. “I have another sister, brother-in-law and nephew who live in Oklahoma, and it's that nephew's first Christmas as well.”

She said Skype makes it simple to keep in touch with her relatives and it’s all free.  The family started using video chatting about three years ago. With two new babies in the family, Schwartz’s parents are able to actually see their grandchildren on the computer screen.  Just a few days ago her sister in New Zealand video called Schwartz and greeted her with her nephew dressed like a little Santa Claus.

“Even when we haven't been in the same country as each other for a year or more, Skype let's us actually see each other almost every day,” she said.

Schwartz has used video chatting for more than just visiting family during the holidays. When she moved to her new house, she was able to give family members a virtual tour on Skype. One of her past college roommates asked her to be a bridesmaid during a Skype call.

“I've been saying for years that Skype is my favorite invention,” she said.

 More on Patch: Video Chat Connects More Than Faces