I hate facetime.

At best, the small screen in front of me gives an unsatisfying tease of what it feels like to talk in person.

It’s a layer of inconvenience that I just can’t seem to get past.

I’ve realized that what makes conversations fun for me isn’t just being able to talk with someone as I look at their face.

I also want to see their body language.

Their posture and stance reveals how comfortable they are, their eye contact reveals how engaged they are, and their hand movements reveal so much more emotion.

I want to see the ways they’re reacting to the things I say and show them the ways I’m reacting to the things they say.

Whether it be a flirtatious tap on the shoulder, a harder tap of laughter, or an even harder tap of disapproval, I think we were made to express ourselves with more than just a face and a voice.

And I hate having to worry about the inconveniences of failed wifi connections.

Not to mention all the horrible distractions that come with virtual communication.

And worst of all, sometimes they don’t even pick up.

But facetime keeps me waiting.

Little by little, as I see someone through that small digital window, it keeps me waiting for the next time I’ll get to see them in person.

After all, facetime isn’t a replacement for interacting with someone in real life but rather a means to stay connected in between the gaps of being with someone in person.

If facetime was so great, maybe we wouldn’t feel the desire to see each other in person as strongly.

So maybe facetime isn’t that bad.

Maybe it’s a good thing that facetime is ridden with so many problems.

And maybe— just maybe—

it's the frustrations and inconveniences of virtual communication that make the wait that much more worth it.

- James Kim