To alleviate worrying about staying in touch once I head to Ecuador... I have been researching the options of late. So, in Ecuador, I can immerse myself at the clinic & local culture while easily connecting with friends and family.
Family & friends are spread across the globe & the US --Dubai, London, Nigeria, Hong Kong my sister traveling throughout Asia and the Middle East, DC, Minnesota, LA, Pennsylvania, a Reservation in South Dakota, CA, Vermont, Chicago, & North Carolina.
Some top ways to stay in touch
1. Skype--free calls computer-to-computer. Generally speaking, cheap rates to use the internet to call a cell phone or home phone. One problem, legend has it this service is banned in the United Arab Emirates.
2. Google Voice--This service is by invite only at the time. (You can get your own invite by clicking here, signing in to your Google account). I am not completely sure how this service will work when calling abroad numbers, I will keep you updated. I think there will be a small fee. Only today, I requested to join. The service also allows users to do some pretty cool stuff domestically--you can get a google voice number and give this to friends. Depending on how you set up your account, you can allow family and friends to have access to your home and cell when they call your google voice number. Chronic over-callers can be sent straight to voice-mail (kind of cruel). Work colleagues can be sent only to your work number or work cell. Pretty cool video explaining on youtube.
3. Google Talk--Download video chat and voice chat to your google account.
Free International Calls from your Mobile Phone (Make International Calls like Local Calls)
Almost all of the below services work the same. You login to the site, enter your friend's number abroad, receive a local web number for your friend, call the local number, your friend receives a text of your web number, calls the number (which is local for him or her) and you connect. Voila! I have yet to see which service is best.... so for your perusal:
4. Jaxtr--Free international calls from mobile & you don't have to download software. This service allows you to enter your cell/home number and country, enter your friend's home/cell number and country, and you receive a Jaxtr number. You call the Jaxtr number and then dial your friend's number. Meanwhile, they receive a text with a number and they must call that number. Wahoo they will be connected to you! I also have yet to try this service... I will let you know soon. This happy-video shows you what it is all about. It seems a bit confusing, but free! and using your cell phone! And for your entertainment only, a video that semi-explains Jaxtr to the backbeat of an international band...
5. Rebtel--Free international calls from mobile. Watch this heartwarming video.
6. Talkster--Similar, free international calls from mobile. This allows you to also call Google Talk numbers. UAE is not listed as a possibility, like many other services. Great feature: You can use Talkster by sending a text message to Talkster and receiving a Talkster number for your friend via a return text to your phone.
Finally, a helpful NYTimes blogger runs through some basics: "Calling Home for Less"
Happy Talking!
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Flying around
(Written Fri Aug 21st… I will get better at this, I promise!)
In an attempt to keep up writing skills and actually be true to having a blog, here it goes….
An hour ago, I boarded a flight to Atlanta (a pit stop on the way to Seattle). Everyone boarded, all was well, until I was briefly transported to the airport scene from Meet the Parents. Remember that one? Airport drama. Maybe airports are the prime place for the divas of the world to let it all lose, since even ordinary even-tempered people can lose it. Yet the flight attendant definitely did not provoke a woman in an exit row enough to warrant a cat fight. When asked to turn off her phone, a woman responded, “I do not like the tone you are taking with me. If you would address me in a professional tone, I would be happy to answer your question.” This went on for some time and I thought I was on a sixth grade girls bathroom break—oh the drama. Well, in my row, I snickered with the woman next to me.
Sidenote: yes, it is one of my favorite past-times to begin a conversation with the person beside me. For all you nay-sayers out there, don’t worry. I listen to body language and don’t carry on unnecessarily. I would compare finding a seat in an airplane to meeting your freshman year roommate at school. Generally speaking, it is a random assignment, and that is part of the joy. My usual intro line is, “Are you headed home?” You are warned. Yet I will say, this line has led me to have discussions with very interesting, caring, enlightening people and learn quite a bit.
a. Minneapolis, MN→Dallas, TX. I met a retiree, approximately 70. The tall, lean man had a wide smile and eagerly pointed out his wife of forty-five years five rows ahead of us. The love this man had for his wife was clear in only a brief conversation. Moreover, his resolve for his faith was incredible. He was neither fanatical nor afraid to openly discuss his foundation in life—faith and God.
b. Minneapolis, MN→ Miami, FL. Two years ago, I was on my way to Ecuador, only two years of beginner Spanish under my belt and a tad nervous to be thrown into my “language agreement—that I wouldn’t speak any English.” A free-spirited thirtyish year-old sat down next to me. His look was polished and he looked ready for clubbing, definitely not a Midwesterner in jeans and a hoodie (or me, cozy in sweatpants for a day of flying!) It turned out he was from Colombia, wanted me to visit his bellisimo country and insisted on writing his phone number in Bogota in my book-flap. (It was easier just to let this happen and then wave… “nos vemos!” *wink, no*). In any case, we talked in Spanish for half the flight and I got off the plane feeling a little more ready for Quito.
c. Rochester, MN→Chicago, IL. A mother traveling with her daughter told me of their gratefulness for the kind people in Minnesota throughout her daughter’s chemo treatment. For ten minutes or so she described her daughter’s doctor and I discovered it was a family friend. Hearing the story of a girl’s illness through the eyes of her mother was humbling.
d. Rochester, MN→Chicago, IL. A bright-eyed Chilean physician who was returning home from six weeks working in Rochester was kind enough to speak with me in Spanish for most of the 40 minute flight. He left me his business card, in case I ever am really able to visit Chile, his children, twenty-somethings themselves, would be pleased to show a Rochester-girl Santiago.
e. Seattle, WA→ Atlanta, GA. A woman with two cats and two dogs beside her gave me Benadryl when I revealed my cat allergy. Sweet.
Last note on the actual flight: while gazing out the window at the clouds and blanket of darkness, a huge ball of light exploded on top of the wing. A “boom” sounding all-too much like that of an explosion reached my window from the lightening-ball five feet from my window. I had never seen lightening hit a plane, but after slightly jumping into the lap of the woman next to me and being reassured by the flight attendant that this was normal (fire-ball-of-light five foot in diameter?) I closed my eyes to nap…and shut the window blind.
In an attempt to keep up writing skills and actually be true to having a blog, here it goes….
An hour ago, I boarded a flight to Atlanta (a pit stop on the way to Seattle). Everyone boarded, all was well, until I was briefly transported to the airport scene from Meet the Parents. Remember that one? Airport drama. Maybe airports are the prime place for the divas of the world to let it all lose, since even ordinary even-tempered people can lose it. Yet the flight attendant definitely did not provoke a woman in an exit row enough to warrant a cat fight. When asked to turn off her phone, a woman responded, “I do not like the tone you are taking with me. If you would address me in a professional tone, I would be happy to answer your question.” This went on for some time and I thought I was on a sixth grade girls bathroom break—oh the drama. Well, in my row, I snickered with the woman next to me.
Sidenote: yes, it is one of my favorite past-times to begin a conversation with the person beside me. For all you nay-sayers out there, don’t worry. I listen to body language and don’t carry on unnecessarily. I would compare finding a seat in an airplane to meeting your freshman year roommate at school. Generally speaking, it is a random assignment, and that is part of the joy. My usual intro line is, “Are you headed home?” You are warned. Yet I will say, this line has led me to have discussions with very interesting, caring, enlightening people and learn quite a bit.
a. Minneapolis, MN→Dallas, TX. I met a retiree, approximately 70. The tall, lean man had a wide smile and eagerly pointed out his wife of forty-five years five rows ahead of us. The love this man had for his wife was clear in only a brief conversation. Moreover, his resolve for his faith was incredible. He was neither fanatical nor afraid to openly discuss his foundation in life—faith and God.
b. Minneapolis, MN→ Miami, FL. Two years ago, I was on my way to Ecuador, only two years of beginner Spanish under my belt and a tad nervous to be thrown into my “language agreement—that I wouldn’t speak any English.” A free-spirited thirtyish year-old sat down next to me. His look was polished and he looked ready for clubbing, definitely not a Midwesterner in jeans and a hoodie (or me, cozy in sweatpants for a day of flying!) It turned out he was from Colombia, wanted me to visit his bellisimo country and insisted on writing his phone number in Bogota in my book-flap. (It was easier just to let this happen and then wave… “nos vemos!” *wink, no*). In any case, we talked in Spanish for half the flight and I got off the plane feeling a little more ready for Quito.
c. Rochester, MN→Chicago, IL. A mother traveling with her daughter told me of their gratefulness for the kind people in Minnesota throughout her daughter’s chemo treatment. For ten minutes or so she described her daughter’s doctor and I discovered it was a family friend. Hearing the story of a girl’s illness through the eyes of her mother was humbling.
d. Rochester, MN→Chicago, IL. A bright-eyed Chilean physician who was returning home from six weeks working in Rochester was kind enough to speak with me in Spanish for most of the 40 minute flight. He left me his business card, in case I ever am really able to visit Chile, his children, twenty-somethings themselves, would be pleased to show a Rochester-girl Santiago.
e. Seattle, WA→ Atlanta, GA. A woman with two cats and two dogs beside her gave me Benadryl when I revealed my cat allergy. Sweet.
Last note on the actual flight: while gazing out the window at the clouds and blanket of darkness, a huge ball of light exploded on top of the wing. A “boom” sounding all-too much like that of an explosion reached my window from the lightening-ball five feet from my window. I had never seen lightening hit a plane, but after slightly jumping into the lap of the woman next to me and being reassured by the flight attendant that this was normal (fire-ball-of-light five foot in diameter?) I closed my eyes to nap…and shut the window blind.
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