how does my email travel from my computer to a family members PC overseas, instantaneously? Specifically.?

how does it work specifically, no sarcastic answers please.

It's not exactly instantaneous - it takes some time to make it there. It's basically the same way phone calls are made. When you call someone, your voice is converted to data and sent through the phone line until it reaches the person you're calling. It's the same with email, except that the connections can be phone lines, cable lines, satellites, fiber optic cables, etc.

Can't be as specific as you probably want...but...from your computer through your phone line (DSL or Dialup) or your satellite or wireless line, to your ISP's server, through one or more servers here and there in known or unknown places here and there over hill and dale at blazingly fast speeds as the need arises (variable as partners shake hands with each other) then up to a satellite and kaboom back down to a server overseas and back through hill and dale (still blazingly fast) to various servers, one or more and to your family member. Not exactly instantaneous but danged near. (Don't let them fool you, speed of electrons through wire isn't exactly the speed of light! And the message traffic cop may have to pause your email for an electronic moment while my email passes in the other direction!)