One thing about pandemics: You are stuck inside your bubble. However, the amazing opportunity the internet presents is that to expand our bubbles infinitely through engaging with people online. As I type I am participating in a Creative Writing Symposium online where writers from across multiple states are communicating and discussing writing. Normally for this to happen we’d have to meet up. However, now we are doing these things online and creating through that a community of purpose vs. a community of place. Here is what that means to me: We are delving into the possibility of not being restricted by physical borders. We are allowing ourselves the space to consider collaboration and culture that is not geographically bound. This could work. This could be a transformative moment for our society as a whole and could strengthen cross-border and cross cultural relationships by creating and cultivating the sort of relationships of purpose that the sister cities program was aiming for at its inception.
I am excited by the possibilities.