Comm'n in the Romp

Comm. in the Romp

Sometimes when you go forth and try something new – travel, work, play, etc… You have to rely on friends… Or friends of friends… Or sometimes friends of family that are friends… OR sometimes your father’s brother’s cousin’s sister’s mother’s aunt’s second cousin’s (three times removed) roommate.  May the Schwartz be with me, folks!  In this case it was simple.  My contact in Sydney was a friend’s friend – No Schwartz required there.

Customs form filled out, follow the herd through the terminal, to the carousel where the only bag to arrive is my scuba kit.  Next stop is to the Qantas desk on how to get my bag back.  GIVE ME BACK MY ROMP!  I NEED MY ROMP!  HOW DARE YOU TOUCH MY ROMP!  Apparently a bottle of whiskey and a 24 iRig keyboard sets off some suspicion in the Land of China.  The more you know... 

First order of business Down Under is to get my cell phone up and going.  If I am to stay here I'll need call, text, and data.  Good thing I asked Verizon to give me a phone that will work internationally with a foreign SIM card.  Telstra offered a great deal.  Also, helps when my new friend recommended anyone but the company she was using.  About $40 AUD (~$30USD) For 5 gigs of data, free talk and text, and free talk and text to certain countries.  The USA is one of them!  Yay!  Pretty easy as, old SIM card out, new one put in, everything seemed to be working, and one less box to tick off, right folks?

Google image search of Australian Telecomm Companies

WRONG!  Within 5 minutes of leaving the Airport my data stopped working and my network often dropped out.  Apparently this is common in Australia.  Ok, roll with the punches.  After all, every Aussie will tell you the NBN (National Broadband Network – fiber optics) is coming.  

Travelers tip time. If you are an American traveling and wanting to not spend a stupid amount of money on your cell provider my recommendation is NEVER buy a phone from your American cell provider. What they did not tell me at Verizon is that you get the Verizon version of that phone not the actual Samsung phone (as in the case with me).  Best advice; go to an actual Microsoft store or Apple store and buy a less than new phone outright that is internationally unlocked.  For the next few days I had to learn on the fly how to basically reprogram my Android to work with the Telstra network.   Here I am, two blocks from Coogie Beach, at my first Airbnb (more on that experience to come), and instead of enjoying the 20˚C+ temps like everyone else I am using WiFi off my computer to try and reprogram a phone.  A phone promised by Verizon that works internationally. Youtube to the rescue… Kinda.

Google image search of Verizon

Eventually, I had to go back to the airport for the sales rep to tell it was fine (even though it still was not working) and use Whatsapp.  Slight over sight mate… DATA was not working at all.  Put the hand on the paint and paint on the paper mate.  Now I am off to a mall and to an actual Telstra store to have one the reps there reprogram the entire phone to work.  The total time spent fixing this SNAFU cell phone drama 4-5 days.  It would not surprise me if the Comtastic people at Comcast trained everyone in customer service in Aus.  Nothing but drama after drama just like Comcast offers. Because that’s comtastic!  But no worries, folks.  Between the rep reprogramming my phone and no longer using the Verizon messenger app. I am finally Comm... Comm'n...  Comm'n in the Romp - bu ba ba ba ba ba! (The chorus to Culture Clubs song Chameleon anyone?).  Roughly about the same time I got my last piece of luggage from China.  

I need a full strength bevie now.