As we take stock of the previous year in terms of travel and look forward (here we come Japan and Italy!) I must give homage to the slick operations of the SIM Card guys in airports. When traveling to less developed countries than the U.S., where the monopoly noose of phone plans fits tight around our necks, one can easily buy a cheap SIM card for the country at the airport, and therefore easily communicate in country with taxis, restaurants, and hotels. [Except in India ,where even the simplest of exchanges devolves into a quagmire before you take a breath.]
In theory, it's a lovely, friendly idea. In actuality it is an absolute crap shoot, based on the premise that you understand how phone plans really work. Back in the day when all one had was a land line, or even a cell phone AND a land line, but no texting, images, We Chat, Instagram, apps galore, it was easy to know what to ask for, and easy to understand what you were able to do. Those halcyon days are at an end, and instead the day is ruled by half-smiling sunglass-wearing men sitting smugly on their stools behind their glass and offering you "the same plan you have at home." As if I understand that plan. Good joke. The trouble starts when you begin asking questions about whether this limit applies to images, or texting, or calling another continent. It's all equally confusing, so my advice is to put on your own set of shades, walk up confidently and put down some money, and ask nothing. Let them do their best; you'll still have some random phone number that you can use to see if a restaurant will be open, and that's the alpha and omega of what I need when I'm in a country short-term. Everything, everything, is smoke and mirrors in these transactions, so blow your own smoke of confidence and wear your own half-smile; it's only 10 bucks, and as long as you don't try to do anything silly like call another continent, you'll probably leave the country with excess minutes on the SIM Card, waiting for you when you return....maybe? Who knows. Don't care. Just buy it and get out of the line.
In theory, it's a lovely, friendly idea. In actuality it is an absolute crap shoot, based on the premise that you understand how phone plans really work. Back in the day when all one had was a land line, or even a cell phone AND a land line, but no texting, images, We Chat, Instagram, apps galore, it was easy to know what to ask for, and easy to understand what you were able to do. Those halcyon days are at an end, and instead the day is ruled by half-smiling sunglass-wearing men sitting smugly on their stools behind their glass and offering you "the same plan you have at home." As if I understand that plan. Good joke. The trouble starts when you begin asking questions about whether this limit applies to images, or texting, or calling another continent. It's all equally confusing, so my advice is to put on your own set of shades, walk up confidently and put down some money, and ask nothing. Let them do their best; you'll still have some random phone number that you can use to see if a restaurant will be open, and that's the alpha and omega of what I need when I'm in a country short-term. Everything, everything, is smoke and mirrors in these transactions, so blow your own smoke of confidence and wear your own half-smile; it's only 10 bucks, and as long as you don't try to do anything silly like call another continent, you'll probably leave the country with excess minutes on the SIM Card, waiting for you when you return....maybe? Who knows. Don't care. Just buy it and get out of the line.
Our phones are so handy for communication. Can't do without them even on vacation. Nice blog.
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