My Dad, the MetaVerse and Me
My Dad, the MetaVerse and Me
During the COVID-19 pandemic, technology became more than just a tool—it became a lifeline. After my mother passed away and immigration restrictions kept me from traveling, I discovered that virtual reality could bridge the physical distance between my father and me in ways I never imagined possible.
The Distance Between Us
When the world shut down, I found myself separated from my father by thousands of miles and closed borders. Video calls helped, but they felt flat, disconnected. There was something missing—that sense of presence that comes from sharing the same space with someone you love.
That's when we discovered the Meta Quest 2.
Our Virtual World
What started as curiosity quickly became our weekend ritual. My dad and I would meet up in virtual reality, and suddenly the distance didn't matter anymore. We were there together.
Walkabout Mini Golf
Our favorite became Walkabout Mini Golf. Every weekend, we'd play through beautifully designed courses, chatting about life while navigating windmills and loop-de-loops. It wasn't just about the game—it was about the conversation, the laughter, the gentle competition that reminded us both of better times.
Building Memories in Horizon Worlds
We spent hours in Horizon Worlds, building things together. My dad, who had never been particularly tech-savvy, was suddenly creating virtual sculptures and designing spaces. Watching him discover this new form of creativity was magical.
Virtual Tourism with Wander
Perhaps the most emotional moments came through the Wander app by Parkline Interactive. I could take my dad on a virtual tour of Burlington, Ontario—my hometown. We "walked" down streets I grew up on, "visited" my house, explored places that held memories for both of us.
Standing there with him, virtually, in front of my home—thousands of miles away from where he actually was—I felt closer to him than I had in months.
More Than Technology
What we discovered wasn't just about the technology. The VR headsets were simply tools that allowed us to maintain something crucial: our connection. In a time of isolation and grief, when the world felt impossibly large and lonely, virtual reality made it small again.
Friends and family started joining us. Weekend VR meetups became a thing. We built a community in virtual space when physical space was denied to us.
The Power of Presence
There's something about VR that video calls can't capture. It's the sense of being somewhere together. When my dad and I played mini golf, we weren't looking at screens—we were standing next to each other on a virtual course. When he missed a putt, I could see him shake his head in that familiar way. When he made a great shot, his victory dance was just as embarrassing as it would have been in real life.
Looking Forward
The pandemic taught us many things, but for me, one of the most valuable lessons was about connection. Physical distance doesn't have to mean emotional distance. Technology, when used thoughtfully, can create bridges we never knew we needed.
My dad and I still meet in VR regularly. Even though travel restrictions have lifted, our virtual golf games continue. They've become part of our relationship, a special space that belongs just to us.
A New Kind of Family Time
The MetaVerse isn't a replacement for physical presence—nothing could be. But during a time when physical presence was impossible, it gave us something precious: a way to be together when we couldn't be together.
To anyone separated from loved ones, whether by distance, circumstance, or health: consider VR. It might seem like just another tech gadget, but it can be so much more. It can be a bridge, a meeting place, a way to maintain connections that matter.
My mum would have loved it. I think she would have beaten us all at mini golf.
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Technology isn't about the devices we use—it's about the connections they enable. In the darkest period of the pandemic, virtual reality helped maintain the most important connection in my life: the one with my father.