The Story of My “Second Life”

Anya joins in…

Originally uploaded by kjarrett.

It all started with an IM from Desi…

I had just logged on to take care of a few things, got a message from her, started catching up, it’d been weeks since we spoke. Next thing I know, she’s TPd me to her place right next door (!), and she introduced me to her friend iAlja Writer, am an online tutor at the Faculty of management in Koper, Slovenia. We hadn’t been chatting long when I noticed Anya Ixchel log on, yet another person I haven’t spoken with in ages, so I asked if she could join us.

And then the magic happened.

In a matter of moments, we had an convened international group of researchers (I use that term loosely in regards to myself) from all over the world: Slovenia, Australia, and two from the USA, just hanging out, chatting about avatars, identity, clothing, our projects, our friendships and personal histories, it was … just … so … amazing! Desi and Anya became instant friends thanks to their shared interest in women’s studies (a natural fit with Anya’s research). Alja was quiet, mostly because I didn’t let her get a word in edgewise, but before we all knew it, Corwin Carillon was there, then Eloise Pasteur, and finally Butch Dae. Before it was over, we spent nearly two hours together, discussing Second Life, Desi’s recent participation at an invitation-only Linden Labs event (can I even talk about it Desi?) as the sole education representative, Butch’s work on a mindmapping application he’s developing, it was incredible.

RL called, and I needed to go, as most of the troupe headed off in search of the TeleHUD and other helpful gadgets (I really need that two-person hang glider, Desi!).

I had been out of SL for days, wondering about getting back into the fray, I stop in, and THIS happens.

Now, RL beckons, a bike ride with the family, and grading papers from my Walden class, which started last week…

Life is so much easier in SL…

-kj-