Ceteris Scribus: Daniela Bianchi

Swipe Right on Time Travel: A 60s Perspective on Today

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In a world where autonomous vehicles drive smoothly down busy roads and computerized gadgets make the world our oyster, one can only guess at the confusion of a traveller from another time. Daniela, a refined and perceptive young woman from the 1960s, recently had herself transported into the frenetic mayhem of 2025. Her travels from the sets of Istanbul to the high-tech byways of contemporary cities are nothing less than a reel-to-real odyssey.

Picture waking up in a world where phones are smarter than the majority of side characters in a Hitchcock movie. For Daniela, watching people stuck to small screens was nothing short of a plot twist. "In my day, a screen was something you looked through, not into," she joked, as a digital billboard nearby flashed another promotion for the newest smartphone model. "It's like everyone's waiting for their close-up, Mr. DeMille." But her observations did not end at technology. The fashion changes also had her in stitches. "In the 60s, we twirled in dresses; now, everybody's in athleisure, ready to run into the apocalypse." She envied the comfort of yoga pants, but couldn't help but laugh at the irony of wearing workout garb while watching shows about other people exercise. Her perspective on contemporary romance was also so charming. "Dating apps? You mean to tell me people swipe left or right to find love? I thought only typewriters had that kind of power," she quipped. The whole idea of online love was a meet-cute gone online, where algorithms took the place of serendipity. "Back then, we used to call it love at first sight, not love at first byte."

In spite of the shocks, Daniela experienced moments of deep insight. The social movements, the drive for equality, and the shattering of social norms spoke to her. "It's like the world finally found its groove," she said. "In the 60s, we planted the seeds, and now, I see the garden." Her visit to a contemporary supermarket was another spectacle. "An aisle dedicated to chips? And what on earth is a kale chip?" she exclaimed, raising an eyebrow. Daniela's interest in self-checkout counters was cute. "You mean I can purchase all this without uttering a single word? Introverts must be living their dream!"

The world of food, too, had her in a daze. She was exposed to sushi, bubble tea, and vegan burgers, each experience a culinary time warp. "A burger in my day was a burger. Nowadays, it's an existential issue - meat or no meat, gluten or gluten-free, bun or lettuce wrap?" She even experimented with a contemporary coffee order, discovering that ordering a plain coffee resulted in a mind-boggling array of sizes, roasts, and milk substitutes. "It's like I had to get a degree just to order a latte!"

As she stepped into the virtual world, Daniela came across social media. Although she adored the thought of sharing moments, she was perplexed about influencers. "So, if I post a photo of my breakfast daily, I can earn a living? I used to do that for free at my kitchen table!" She was just as intrigued about the idea of 'going viral.' "Then, going viral meant catching the flu, not followers." Her observations about contemporary slang were just as biting. "Ghosting? We used to have ghosts, but they only appeared in haunted houses, not after a date. And 'slaying' meant something quite different then - tending to involve dragons." Daniela also thought the use of abbreviations was funny. "BRB, LOL, FOMO - I need a translator just to talk to teenagers!"

But not everything was carefree. Daniela couldn't help but feel the suffocating pace of life. "People hardly have time to catch their breath. It feels like everyone's stuck on a fast-forward button." She longed for the simplicity of a peaceful night, a letter written by hand, or a discussion without notifications in between. "Then, if someone wanted to chat, they rang your doorbell, not your phone." Her views spread to contemporary entertainment. Although Daniela enjoyed the intensity of streaming sites, she couldn't help but miss the build-up of a night at the movies. "Now you can watch a whole series in one night, but where is the excitement of waiting a week for the next instalment? It's like knowing how the last page of a book turns out first - what's the hurry?" She also commented on the way stories had changed. "We used to have love triangles; now its multiverses. Our melodramas were stolen glances, not stolen timelines."

Apart from the culture shock, Daniela's flexibility was impressive. She adopted streaming platforms, enjoyed memes, and even tried a TikTok dance (though her twist and shout consisted of more twist than required). Her natural inquisitiveness and willingness to learn transformed every misunderstanding into an endearing experience. She also grew fond of podcasts. "It's like old-time radio shows but without the commercials for hair tonic."

When asked what she would bring back to the 1960s, Daniela's response was brief: "Hope." She was impressed that in midst of the chaos, people today still managed to connect with one another, care for each other, and find joy. "In my day, we dreamed of the future, and now that I see it, it's not perfect - but it's beautiful." Her journey through the modern world was filled with more than a few "you’ve got to be kitten me" moments, but Daniela’s charm and wisdom shone through. Her fresh yet vintage perspective served as a reminder that while the times may change, the heart remains timeless. As she said, "Some things are strange, but love, kindness, and a good cup of coffee never go out of style."

Daniela's journey to the future could have been an accident, but what she learned from it was no accident. On her return to her own timeline (or at least, we believe so), she left behind a message: "Keep your hearts open, your spirits high, and never forget - sometimes, the best stories are the ones we write together."

Now, who'd have thought a girl from the past could be so forward of her time?

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Note: This piece is published as part of Ceteris Scribus - a one-of-a-kind intellectual and creative article writing competition hosted on Unstop by The Contrarian. Participants could choose between imagining how historical figures would react to today’s world or analyzing the economics of their favoriten fictional world. This piece by Umang Saini secured 3rd place in the competition.

Writer's Bio:

Umang Saini is currently a student at FORE School of Management, New Delhi pursuing PGDM (Big Data Analytics). Inspired by his Nana, Umang Saini began writing at the age of 11, with his early works published in Children’s World Magazine. Poetry, shayari and storytelling became his voice, earning him the Student of the Year title in both high school and graduation. Becoming the Head Boy of the school, a childhood dream, remains his proudest achievement. He has also presented research papers at international conferences.  With a love for words and history, he continues to leave his mark - one story at a time. He enjoys living his story of endless charm, where he pauses, poses, laughs, loves, eats, snaps, savours and most importantly - takes his chances, as doing so never leaves him disappointed.