Last month I was in Russia with my five siblings, best friend and parents—and there’s no hiding you’re a tourist with a group this large or this loud. So, needless to say we stood out, which is almost always the case on our family vacations. To my surprise Moscow and St. Petersburg were beautiful cities with palaces, churches and a rich history. I found the cultural differences interesting including the slim fit population, a much less concern for personal space and an overall more reserved persona. But there was one thing that was the same—digital communication.

There wasn’t a Russian who wasn’t equipped with a smartphone or device to connect with each other, but more importantly it served as a digital translator for us. Even though English is taught in most schools, not everyone speaks it, but in today’s day in age we had no problem getting by using translator apps on our phones to communicate. This made conversations with locals, ordering dinner or shopping much easier and left the awkward experience of making hand signals and gestures a thing of the past.

It also made me realize one thing that social media is inescapable. My younger sister, Colleen, instantly had photos posted to Instagram and Facebook—she may have been in a completely foreign country, but she wasn’t about to miss a beat. And how did all of our Russian friends want to stay in contact? You’ve guessed it—through social media. It has truly revolutionized the way we interact with each other and will only continue to evolve enabling one-time connections the chance to turn into a real life friendship.