Today was a monumental day. Ryan and I accidentally reinforced a great American stereotype. But more importantly, we were able to get cellphones.
ALDIs are the German version of Walmart's food section. They sell the cheap brands in bulk via conveniently placed stores about the size of CVS (which is on the big side). We decided we would get our phone SIM cards from ALDI because they have very cheap plans.
Ryan and I had been expecting a store like Walmart, with a phone section or something of the sort. Instead, we found out that we had to get the SIM cards from the checkout clerk, who worked at a break-neck pace ringing up the line of customers. Our confusion, combined with the impatient customers in line behind us, led to a very unsuccessful conversation. We, well actually just Ryan, who knows Deutsch, asked several questions and listened to long technical answers while the clerk pointed at the fine print of a brochure. I assumed things were going well because of the excessive head nodding and use of "Ja" between the two of them- I was wrong. Ryan thanked her a lot and declined to buy the card, and we ran away with our tails tucked between our legs. It turned out Ryan didn't understand a single thing she said- his acting was cause for a good laugh.
Ryan and I had been expecting a store like Walmart, with a phone section or something of the sort. Instead, we found out that we had to get the SIM cards from the checkout clerk, who worked at a break-neck pace ringing up the line of customers. Our confusion, combined with the impatient customers in line behind us, led to a very unsuccessful conversation. We, well actually just Ryan, who knows Deutsch, asked several questions and listened to long technical answers while the clerk pointed at the fine print of a brochure. I assumed things were going well because of the excessive head nodding and use of "Ja" between the two of them- I was wrong. Ryan thanked her a lot and declined to buy the card, and we ran away with our tails tucked between our legs. It turned out Ryan didn't understand a single thing she said- his acting was cause for a good laugh.
This afternoon I recruited the help of Manuel to figure out the phone contract. Before going to the clerk, Ryan and I decided we needed snacks for language school- we were pointed to the section with american flags on every product.
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| "American Bars: Apple Pie"
At the checkout counter, we received a cutting smirk from the our clerk from the day before. I stopped and thought about it. To her, it was the return of the two goofs from the day before. But this time, they had brought a German for reinforcement (not before buying identical red, white, and blue packaged "american" products). When the clerk saw the situation, and we saw the clerk see the situation, Ryan, Manuel, and I began to laugh. +1 for the marketing team of "American Bars".
It turned out that there was nothing to the phone, all you had to do was pay 12 euro at the counter and set it up later via the internet. We had been so close the day before! Nevertheless, I now have calling and texts, and unlimited internet (high speed for .3 Gigs), for 4 euro a month.
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| Inaugural text to my German counterpart
*** Sidebar ***
Data privacy and correct internet use is important in Germany. We have been reminded several times throughout our orientations that streaming or downloading online content is prosecuted heavily in Germany- apparently no one gets away with it. We have also been told to never use peoples full/real names online because people do not want to be searchable. The same values discourage putting photos of people associated with you on the internet without their explicit permission. For example, it would be bad if I took a picture that included my teacher and put it on my blog without asking. It's an interesting concept considering how "connected" American culture is.
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