Polish SIM CARD

I think I have made it clear in previous posts that not having Internet on my phone has resulted in some problems. This was mostly because I get to where I need to be with Google Maps.

Without it, I am screwed.

I had already discovered several things in Poland, visited Manufaktura, eaten in a couple of places, caught buses and trains and got to know my school.. but today was the day to go in search for a good SIM card for my phone.

On arriving there, the first thing I did was go to a shop similar to Media Markt, the name of which I can't remember. They then recommended a company called Heyah. However they told me that they had run out so I went to the main shopping center and asked several people, the last one being a charming Polish girl who offered to accompany me to the shop and help me to choose.

I told her the situation - that I wanted a SIM card for my phone and that having Internet was the most important thing for me as I barely use my phone for calling or texting.

The girl started to talk to the shop keeper, another Polish girl who was sullen looking and looked like she hated her job. It was difficult because it seemed to be a hassle for her to explain anything, like she didn't care in the slightest that I needed to resolve my lack of Internet problem (I understand you are in your full rights but you are working in customer service so put up with it, hold the bad attitude and find out because until I perfectly understand the conditions of all of the SIM cards, I will not stop).

After the polish girl talked to the woman of the shop, I found out the Heyah was quite good but you had to pay extra for Internet: 1GB cost10 zl (2. 5 euros) and lasted a month.

Prices without any additions such as Internet or additional minutes are as follows :

• 5-9 zl for 5 days.
• 10 - 19 zl for 10 days.
• 20 - 49 zl for 1 month.
• 50-500 zl for 100 days.

The next option I looked at was PLAY. This was the same as Heyah, only it included Internet. I paid 5zl for the SIM which was supposed to last 5 days. However I had it for at least 9 or 10 until I realized I couldn't call or receive calls. This meant it was the time to go back to the shop and top it up with 50 zl.

Don't be under the impression that it was easy to find out everything they explained. Basically you can invest those 50 zl in what you want: calls, texts messages or Internet. When you use it all up, it's just a matter of going back and topping it up again.

It hasn't given me any problems so far and the coverage is good so I believe it's a fantastic option, which can last you up until 3 months for less than 13 euros. This makes me curse even more companies such as Orange, Movistar or Vodaphone who are well known all over the world because they are all the same.

It's a matter that really makes me furious. Have we really let ourselves be manipulated by telephone companies this much? Are we seriously still a flock of sheep in spite of seeming so sharp in regards to other matters?

I know people who end up paying 100 euro monthly bills for their mobile phones. This comes to a total of an annual 1, 200 euros: 1, 200 that we just throw away because in reality, you're paying such bills for nothing.

There are already programs enabling free calls such as Skype but this ladies and gentlemen, is how everything should be. I don't understand how we have arrived in this situation, in which we see announcements on a day to day basis such as: squirrel, dolphin, whale, killer whale, hippopotamus and koala tariffs, new tariffs which promise to adapt to your needs and as well as your pocket.

Hello? Seriously?

One of Movistar's slogans has remained with me and as it is the first that comes to mind, I quote, 'Life is more shared': It is based on the concept that, with Movistar, not only can people communicate; but also share their experiences, life experiences and feelings enabling all of these to reach a greater relevance, be enriched with another vision and the contribution and complicity of others. Words like solidarity, friendship and company among many others take on a greater meaning. The brand's vision is that life holds thousands of extraordinary moments sharing them glorifies them even more.

To hell with it. I have nothing else to add.

I left the shop and started walking home. It was night time, which complicated this further.

I caught the tram 3, like I did the first time and I got off at one of the stops. I didn't really know which one it was and nothing looked familiar.

The first person I asked for Hotel Molo was the typical, elderly Polish woman. She was small, with a delicate appearance. Her face reflected the time passed and the touch of a considerable amount of cold. Her eyes were small and glassy and her face was almost covered by a cap and large coat which were complimented by a scarf, a long skirt only exposing a part of her ankles, stockings and black shoes with a wide, low heel.

To be honest, I don't really know why I asked her as I know that 99% of old people don't speak English but it was probably because she was the only person that I saw in the street. She began reeling off in an unbelievable, fast and overwhelming paragraph in Polish accompanied by some arm movements. As soon as she stopped to breathe, I quickly blurted out, 'No polaco! No polaco! (Just to let you know: Nie mówię po polski means I don't speak Polish) because obviously the woman hadn't understood and continued on.

Finally, I smiled at her, gestured OK raising my thumb and began to walk across the woods. I saw some tennis courts in the distance (I would later discover than this was actually the right way) and asked myself where the hell I was. I continued walking without direction, looking for more people. I saw that I was moving quite far away from where I originally was so I turned back towards where I originally got off the metro.

In a door of restaurant on a corner, I saw a young couple with a crib. I didn't have to think twice, I sped towards them and asked them. They had no idea where I was talking about.

• 'What road is this? '
• 'Okopowa 70', I responded.

He got out his mobile phone, clicked on Google Maps (laaaaa) and told me, 'Ufff, well that's rather far'.

(Mum, if you ever read this, skip past the next paragraph)

Yes it's around 15 minutes away, more or less, but being cold and late it's... He turned towards his wife, said something to her in Polish, looked at me and responded, 'Let's go. I will take you by car'.

Once I had done it a couple of times, I discovered how to get to the hostel with no problems from here but you have to take a few manoeuvres. Because of this, I wouldn't have had any chance of getting there! I am not kidding.

He left me at the hostel doors, passing again by the hellish entrance; it's road with holes a meter wide and 25 meters deep which all the cars avoid if they can. Even the man asked me how I got here.

I thanked them and asked him to give his wife and baby a kiss from me (it came from the heart). He opened the door, smiled at me and said sweetly, 'Good luck in your life'.

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