New Immigrants: Cell Phone Adventures

I am having true empathy for newly arrived immigrants to the United States. In fact, I'm beginning to feel like one myself at this point.

Abi and I arrived at Dave and Lori's doorstep on the 4th of September. We had a great Labor Day weekend in their newly rented Menlo Park home. Abi and her cousin Michael have taken over the lovely backyard, while the adults are working through the many things that can be grilled for dinner...the options are endless!

Tuesday dawns and while Dave and Lori are off at work, I get started on my endless 'to do' list. One of our first priorities is getting cell phones set up. The websites were far too confusing, so I hopped on a borrowed mountain bike (which i'm pretty sure Lori last rode in the late 90's) and rode to my nearest Verizon and AT&T stores.

The first stop was in downtown Palo Alto. For those of you who have not been here, this is a very nice little downtown...a bit like Winter Park in Orlando, and after an easy 15 minute bike ride from home, I was cruising along the very nice tree-lined streets. An informative stop and I was back on my bike and onward to my next stop.

Following my notes, I took what I assumed was a secondary route to avoid the main commercial road. It soon became clear that instead, I had basically taken a highway route and was pretty much stuck...so onward I went. Around an under the interchange, onto an expressway, before eventually finding my destination. So in a wander to explain my needs...it goes a bit like this.

AT&T guy: Do you have an existing contract you're looking to renew or move?

CWA: No, I don't have a cell phone.

AT&T guy: So do you have a number you need to move over?

CWA: No, I don't have a cell phone.

AT&T guy: So...you don't actually have a phone? (clearly thinking...what planet have you been living on?!)

Anyway, you get the idea.

And although I rode home (by a different route) empty-handed that day, you'll be happy to hear that we now have working cell phones that we are very happy with.

I think my favorite part of the whole adventure was chatting with the retired gentleman sitting inside AT&T fueling up with a Red Bull and Snickers. It turned out that he was the owner of the only other bike in the parking lot...although his was a 'customized' ride, with a full-size wheely-bin (garbage can) strapped to the back. He explained when we crossed paths on our way out that he was only partway through his recycling route. He had two more areas to cover and wouldn't be finished until midnight. I just couldn't make this stuff up!