Ring Ring
"Ring Ring", the Swedish pop group ABBA sang back in the days (not in Brighton, though, where they won Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Waterloo" in 1974, while Grease actress Olivia Newton John (Sandy) ended up 4th)
So, quite obviously (?) this post will be about phones. Calling home with your regular mobile phone from abroad can be very expensive, so here are some questions for you, that may help you decide what's your best option.
Question 1: Who will you call the most?
Answer 1a: If your answer is mum or other people in your home country, you should check with your regular phone company if there are international price plans they can offer. This can save you money, but on the other hand...
Answer 1b: ...if you also hope you will make a lot of friends in Brighton, you might call them more. If you guys call with English SIM cards you will only pay a local rate and can forget about the expensive international price plan.
Answer 1c: If you miss a bus or for some other reason run late for a lesson, an activity or dinner at your host family's, you have to contact your leader/host family. Both have English SIM cards so in these cases it will be cheeper for you if you use an English SIM card as well. These calls tend to be more common than you might expect. Leaders and host families are supposed to be like stand-ins for you parents while you're abroad. We're always there for you.
Answer 1d: If you think you will call all above equally, there's a good idea to use an English SIM card with free international minutes. At Vodaphone you can top up your phone with £10, £20 or £30. You can make calls to leaders, host families and classmates for that amount and on top of that you get a bonus of 60, 100 or 240 minutes for free to your home country.
Question 2: How much will you call?
Answer 2: If you don't plan on calling home much you can get more minutes for less money to English phones. There are different price plan for different needs - some might prefer calling, others text (SMS) more. Your leader will help you get the right price plan if you ask him/her.
Question 3: Is your phone locked to a phone company in your home country?
Answer 3: If your phone is locked you can't use English SIM cards. Either you unlock your phone, which is perfectly legal, or you buy an international price plan from your regular phone company. You could, of course, buy an new phone for the English SIM card. There are phones for as little as £15, and your leader can help you find them in Brighton.
Whatever option you choose, remember that calling home a lot may get you more home sick. It might sound strange, but the sooner you focus on being in Brighton and not on missing friends and family back home, the more fun you'll probably have. Try to see you hosts, leaders and friends as your new temporary family and you'll have an awesome time in Brighton!
/Emma
So, quite obviously (?) this post will be about phones. Calling home with your regular mobile phone from abroad can be very expensive, so here are some questions for you, that may help you decide what's your best option.
Question 1: Who will you call the most?
Answer 1a: If your answer is mum or other people in your home country, you should check with your regular phone company if there are international price plans they can offer. This can save you money, but on the other hand...
Answer 1b: ...if you also hope you will make a lot of friends in Brighton, you might call them more. If you guys call with English SIM cards you will only pay a local rate and can forget about the expensive international price plan.
Answer 1c: If you miss a bus or for some other reason run late for a lesson, an activity or dinner at your host family's, you have to contact your leader/host family. Both have English SIM cards so in these cases it will be cheeper for you if you use an English SIM card as well. These calls tend to be more common than you might expect. Leaders and host families are supposed to be like stand-ins for you parents while you're abroad. We're always there for you.
Answer 1d: If you think you will call all above equally, there's a good idea to use an English SIM card with free international minutes. At Vodaphone you can top up your phone with £10, £20 or £30. You can make calls to leaders, host families and classmates for that amount and on top of that you get a bonus of 60, 100 or 240 minutes for free to your home country.
Question 2: How much will you call?
Answer 2: If you don't plan on calling home much you can get more minutes for less money to English phones. There are different price plan for different needs - some might prefer calling, others text (SMS) more. Your leader will help you get the right price plan if you ask him/her.
Question 3: Is your phone locked to a phone company in your home country?
Answer 3: If your phone is locked you can't use English SIM cards. Either you unlock your phone, which is perfectly legal, or you buy an international price plan from your regular phone company. You could, of course, buy an new phone for the English SIM card. There are phones for as little as £15, and your leader can help you find them in Brighton.
Whatever option you choose, remember that calling home a lot may get you more home sick. It might sound strange, but the sooner you focus on being in Brighton and not on missing friends and family back home, the more fun you'll probably have. Try to see you hosts, leaders and friends as your new temporary family and you'll have an awesome time in Brighton!
/Emma
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