"Mary" @ Tech Support

My dad calls me daily with a different question, but the conversational theme is always the same: electronics.
"Mariam, my iPod isn't turning on. What do I do?"
or
"Mariam, how do I raise the volume of my phone?"
"How do I listen to my voice mail?"
And my personal favorite: "Mariam, how do I email?"

Everyday, it's either some vaguely described technical issue with an electronic or it's a huge, broad question about the modern technology as a whole (for example, how to email). Now, since I have no brothers, I always had to play the role of a dutiful son within our family unit; for instance, I had to help my dad carry the heavy TVs up a flight of stairs or movefurniture (I can almost picture the naysayers, reading this in disbelief, and thinking Yeah right, like she ever did that! But full disclosure: this is true). I also became really interested in electronics so my dad could have someone to bond with when we went to Best Buy or the now-defunct Circuit City. We would read Consumer Reports (one of my favorite magazines until age 12) and read online reviews on CNET of various electronics from TVs to cell phones to blenders together. These were truly moments worthy of a Norman Rockwell painting.

When I moved away for medical school, though, these moments came to an abrupt end, and I think my dad is still dealing with the after effects. And hence, the daily phone calls to technical support: me. As a busy medical student, I really can't help him trouble shoot over the phone, nor am I exactly trained in dealing with issues such as, "My computer has been running slowly. How do I make it faster, Mariam?" Usually, if it's an easy question, I'll break it down in layman's terms: "You see that circle white thingy on the iPod? Make circles with your finger and that will increase the volume!"

At other times, I admit, my patience wears thin, and I say, "Dad, why am I in to school?"
My dad will say, "So you can be a doctor!"
And then I'll respond with: "I'm not going to school for computer engineering! I'm not Mary, technical support from India, am I?"
My dad, unfazed by my catty sarcasm, will merely say, "I know, Mariam! But I expect you and your generation to know everything about technology!" And with logic like that about Gen Y, how can you argue?

And then I realize that there is a beautiful analogy hidden amongst this daily back and forth. Doctors go to school for years to fix people; people come in with a vague constellation of symptoms, and the physician basically figures out what went wrong with the intricate machinery of the human body. And in theory, how is this cognitive process any different than technical support at those call centers in India?

--By Mariam, who is so excited for the Jon Hamm-Tina Fey event on 30 Rock!!