So I got a new phone the other day. After a few valuable workdays of internet research and talking to my London-technology-guru (Thanks Glenn!), I set out to bite the bullet. I heard the actual process of picking out and paying for the phone, in a very un-American way was extremely speedy, like 3 seconds or less. I was skeptical. But I set out anyway. The one service provider I needed for the “best plan” was allegedly only a train ride away from work. I set out to navigate the maze that is Canary Wharf Estate…see below…(and I know it looks like a straight line, that’s what I thought, but it is nothing of the sort!)
There are like 200 levels and even more twists and turns in there, I swear! So, whatever, I finally found the rail line I needed. I thought that was the hard part….
I pop up like a little prairie dog, or turtle-head, whatever metaphor you so choose, with no clue where I am. Turns out I had broken my number one rule too, “Thou shalt not leave home without the A-Z London Street Guide book.” So here I am, middle of The City, trying to find an obscure phone store, and believe me it was obscure, because I asked many a passerby and they had no idea what I was talking about. Language barrier I presume. All the while, I'm phoneless!! Using the girl scout skills I never obtained, thanks mom (knowing me, I probably protested the stupid jumper and sash and that’s why I was never enrolled, so I take that back mom), I knew I had to go north, so I read the sun! And then I walked straight into the nearest Deutche Bank to ask for directions because they seemed friendly. Two free printed maps, four more “I’m a lost American” stops, and I finally found it.
And true to tale, in and out in less time than it took me to explain to the Kebab man what I was looking for in the first place! Fully equipped and phoned, I typed in my next address and went back to work. Only took two hours (nice long UK lunch break) and I was back at work and in touch with reality.
Now, if only I could get used to using the Droid I’d be all set. If my mom can do it so can I! (I just need to work on these fat fingers…)
