Getting Connected..part 1

'Can I help you?'

'Yes, I'd like an iPhone.'

'Great, do you have a contract with us?'

'No, I just moved here from the states, but I really need to get connected, I'm racking up the charges on my US phone'

'Oh, I see, I'll need a copy of your visa'

'It's being processed'

'Well, then, You can get a prepaid phone. I have one on special for $59.99. I can't give you a contract until you have a visa'

'But I am renting an apartment here. I have a two year lease. Believe me, the commitment is bigger than a wireless contract, and I was allowed to do that. What can I do to get my iPhone?'

'Do you have a visa?'

'Not yet, but I have a copy of my employment agreement. As you can see, I think my compensation allows me to afford a mobile phone, even a plan with more than minimal minutes.'

'I see, do you have a visa?'

'Yes, a platinum one. And a Platinum American Express. I can prepay the entire contract on either of these cards, now my I please get an iphone?'

'When are you expecting your visa to be finalized?'

'After I need to make some important calls that will allow me to arrange for furniture delivery for the apartment that I am renting. They cannot deliver without a local number.'

'We have this nice prepaid deal. $59.99 for the phone, $30.00 to load it up.'

'How do I activate it?'

'Well, you can go onto our website and do it.'

'Ahh....can you help me with my home internet connection?'

'Yes, it should take about 10 days to activate.'

'What do I do in the meantime?'

'Didn't you say you had a US iPhone?'

To Quote Phil Collins...'It's no fun being an illegal alien'

Becoming an Ex-Pat

So, until not to long ago, I would have told you that an expat is someone who, sometime during their life, decided they liked going by the name Tricia....

But, at this advanced stage in my life, here I am, a first time expat, moving to Sydney Australia. Amazing Oz. And I have to say, for the most part it is living up to expectations. What an adventure.

Been here two weeks, and it's amazing all the things I took for granted living in my insular world that just aren't granted...particularly being who I am at the moment...an illegal alien. Hopefully my visa will clear soon, and I can at least be legit, and not sweat when I see a traffic cop.

In the meantime, the first two weeks have been jam packed. Learning to drive on the 'wrong' side of the road from the 'wrong' side of the car. No fatalities... need to replace my wiper blades, perhaps grazed a few pedestrian toes near the curb on the left side, but really, who needs all their toes? And the rear view mirror? Please, over rated.

Can't for the life of me remember my phone number, as it does not have 7 digits, and that's the way my brain is wired.

And then, there's getting connected....that deserves a few separate entries.