I won't answer with the obvious web-cam. Give me some old school connection -- please send me a postcard when you're abroad, and send one every day that you're away (lol).
Skype if you're gone for a long time and want to see your family/friends left behind.
Although it is delayed satisfaction, keeping a journal while you're away is a perfect conversation starter once you return from your adventure. Consider keeping photos (that great meal), notes (on weather, difficulties, highlights), ticket stubs (subway, museums), drawings (don't try to impress anyone, even yourself) & sketches of your trip. Remember to add your lasting impressions of places and people you encounter, plus quotes & snippets of conversations that you overheard.
When you get back, sharing this chronicle of your journey makes it come alive to those you left behind, and jogs your memory of all the good times you had--so much better than the slide-projector shows of the 50-60s!
Yes, the computer but I also love to send postcards. And my friends and family seem to really anjoy them. So the computer is greta but snail mail is good as well.
There are lots of ways but if you are concerened about expenses you can send emails through text and also share photos. If you have skype or other vidio and chat service this could help you stay more personal. These service are free to use.
However you need a pc with a web camera and a mic or a 4th generation Ipod. Not using your own personal pc may cost you though unless you have a friend who will let you use theirs.
Webcam or Skype. A old-fashioined call is also good. Webcam.. You cant beat it..
Totally agree with "the Bucket Lister": skype is the best option to me. Webcam or not you get free calls from your laptop or iphone, instant chat and you can even get a local phone telephone number if you want to communicate with locals at low cost.
I love Skype if I bring my computer as it can be accessed in a hotel room or other private location. Conversing in an internet cafe is not personable nor fun for others. IChat is even better than Skype for Mac users.
The video and audio quality is crystal clear and still free! Yahoo Messenger is perfect for a text conversation, not so much when adding a web cam. The video quality is distorted or grainy, usually freezing at some point.
Facetime on the iPhone is nice depending on which country you travel. International roaming and rates can add up quickly.
Skype can be a difficult connection as it can be hard to see the one you are missing but not be able to actually be close to them. A mixture of letters, emails, texts (if possible), and phone calls will provide a variety of communication methods and let those you focus on know that you are thinking about them a lot, hence the numerous methods of communication. Also, social networks such as Facebook (though I am not a fan) may be another method to let your loved ones know they are on your mind.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.