Having a cell phone

When you arrive to Rio de Janeiro you might realize you will want a cell phone for emergencies or to keep in contact with the new friends you make. Unblock your phone back home. If you don't know how, find someone who does. It is more expensive to try to add an international plan with your phone company. If you arrive with an unblocked phone than you are able to buy a chip, with the same name, only with a carioca pronunciation.`Do not fret because you can also purchase a phone here, if you can find a cheap one. If not, it will also be pricey. It all depends on what you want and especially how long you plan on staying: a month, a semester or a year.

Nevertheless, yesterday I read an article from a small newspaper, Destak, that a law was recently passed several days ago in which companies can no longer sell blocked cell phones. People just have to wait 22 days for the it to take effect. So by the end of this month, July 2012, people will have the opportunity to purchase unblocked phone. Or at least, that's the idea.

I do not know how to unblock a cell phone. And I also decided not to purchase a phone during my stay in Rio de Janeiro. Since I only have about 20 days left here, I figured a cell phone was not extremely necessary. I am always certain I arrive back to my homestay at a decent time as to not cause in worry, in my person.

Now, if you want to speak with family back home, do not purchase calling cards. Most students should have internet access in their homestays, I encourage you to use Skype with your family. If your family does not know how to use Skype, you can always add money to your account and call your family's land line. I spoke for about 45 minutes, from Skype to a United States land line, and the total cost was just under $2.00. There are options, just make sure you inform yourself as much as you can before you arrive.

Don't call your family often, let them miss you or your voice, for that fact. Contact them once a week. If you use any other social media, be certain that they do follow posts or status updates even if you do not directly contact them. Your time abroad is to experience a different culture and sometimes to do that you must create 'distances' from those back home.