Writing task # 3 There is no doubt that what we call family is the core structure of society. Although some people may think that this structure is unchangeable over time, I strongly believe that the definition of family has taken a completely different meaning in today’s world. Two reasons make me feel this way, which I will explain in the following essay. First of all, the bonds that we hold with our extended family members are not as strong as they used to be in the past. Two decades ago, people used to travel less than today. Also, it was less common to live abroad, and starting a new life in a whole different country. However, due to technological developments such as the Internet, TV, and smartphones, the new generation is becoming more interested in visiting new places. Thus, it is much more likely that a young adult will go to study overseas or find a new job in another country, searching for better living conditions. As a result, we are very prone to lose some contact to members of our family such as grandparents, uncles, and cousins, that we used to have contact on a daily basis. My personal experience is a perfect example of this. I decided to get married and go to Brazil to study a master’s degree in Civil Engineering, leaving all my family behind in Venezuela. I did this because I wanted to grow professionally, but also because I was curious and attracted to the Brazilian culture. This made me lose contact with almost every member of my family because I am not used to texting them or call them on Skype or Whatsapp. In addition, friends are taking the place of extended family in today’s society. We spend more time with friends from high school and colleague than with our own cousins and aunts. Because of this, we prefer to maintain a closer relationship with those that have more impact in our life. For instance, I consider that my best friend from college, Hernán, is like a brother to me. Since the first day we met at the University, we have cultivated a special bond that strengthened over time, since we went through moments of joy and sadness together. On the other hand, I do not have much contact with my cousin Juan. Juan and I used to play a lot when we were kids, but once we grew up, we lose contact and never spoke again. This example shows that, sometimes, friends can mean more to us than our own family. Moreover, if we spend enough time with our friends, they can substitute the role of a brother or cousin. Therefore, they can become like a member of our