Setting Up a Phone in London

I have now been in London for nearly a week and I think one of the most important things I did since coming here was set up my UK phone (mobile). This is so important during orientation so you can gather peoples’ contact information as you get them so you won’t be stranded when term starts!

Choosing a Phone

Phones range a lot in price here. Many students came with their unlocked iPhones so they did not have to purchase one abroad. I have a iPhone but to unlock it through AT&T would break my four-year contract. As a result, they would unlock it for “free” but charge me nearly $300 to terminate my contract.

Reputable phones stores in the London area are “3,” Carphone Warehouse, and Vodafone. If it looks sketch, don’t go in. The cheapest model phones available are typically Nokia handsets that are functionally the same from the early 2000’s. It runs around 10 pounds and the SIM card plan costs around 10 pounds a month for calling and texting.

Since my iPhone cannot work abroad, I decided to go for a cheap smartphone. The cheapest run around 40 pounds and the most expensive, like the iPhone, start at 550 POUNDS!!! Shit! Seriously, shit!

Choosing a SIM Card Plan

What I learned so far about phones in the UK are that the SIM card monthly plans are VERY reasonable. Since I am a temporary student in the UK, I am not here long enough to sign up for a formal phone plan, so most of us use SIM cards.

SIM cards run anywhere between 10 and 15 pounds per month. Shop around and the SIM card plans honestly depends on what phone you carry.

Setting up a UK mobile does not necessarily make it easier/cheaper to make international calls. It is mainly for you to stay in contact with people in the UK. Use apps over wifi and data to contact family and friends abroad and don’t waste your money on international calls unless for emergencies.

For you people out there bringing unlocked smartphones

(1) Go to the “3” Mobile store [there’s a location on Oxford Street] and ask for their 15 pound/month SIM card plan that gives you unlimited data and 3000 texts and 300 calling minutes. This is the best deal I heard about so far and I definitely use it! It should work for all smartphones!

(2) Don’t listen to employees at the store claiming that THEIR SIM card will be the only one that works for YOUR phone. As long as the phone is unlocked, virtually ANY CARD SHOULD WORK.

What Phone and SIM Card I Bought

I bought my phone at Carphone Warehouse and my SIM card at “3” Mobile.

I really wanted to use data for apps like Facebook, Gmail, TripAdvisor, and the like, so I was willing to pay the extra money for the added features and conveniences.I went with the cheapest smartphone at Carphone Warehouse. It’s the Huawei Ascend Y300 and, honestly, it works just as well and fast as any other smartphone.

It’s up to you, but the smartphone has been a lifesaver! I can use Facebook Messenger to chat to my friends and family in real-time without added costs of texting.

Important: Set Up Your Phone/SIM Card AT THE STORE! DON’T LEAVE!

Not many people are familiar with setting up new phones or the services the store provides so definitely set it up there with the help of its employees to avoid problems . DO NOT LEAVE UNTIL YOU ARE COMPLETELY SATISFIED!

The SIM card I purchased was the wrong one and I am so glad I was at the store when I caught the mistake. They were able to quickly exchange it and my phone finally worked properly!

I know it’s all confusing in the beginning, but this is one of the first things you should do when going abroad! Good luck!

The Things You WISH You Brought from the US

When packing for 6 months abroad, there are many things you choose to leave behind, thinking you’ll find them in your host country. However, you don’t realize how much you need something until it’s gone! Here’s some advice on not letting this happen to you!

Over-the-Counter Medication

– Cough/Cold medicines: DayQuil, Nyquil, and cough drops

– Emergen-C or Airborne

– Vitamins

– Lactaid if lactose-intolerant

– Advil or Tylenol

– Midol (for you ladies out there)

My little arsenal of over-the-counter medicine I brought from home

In general, the UK will not supply you with brands you are used to at home. The country has different health regulations so obviously, that causes a change in availability of products. Apparently, the Brits don’t use cough drops and don’t have the same cough syrups we use.

In the first week, myself and so many other students got sick. The change in place, temperature, and germs make you super vulnerable to illnesses. I am so glad I had DayQuil and Emergen-C on hand so I could participate in activities without dying. Don’t take them with alcohol so pace the doses so it wears off by the time you are ready to drink!

Prescriptions

I don’t have prescriptions, but these are hard to get anywhere if you have a particular loyalty to one brand. The UK has good healthcare, but would most likely prescribe you something you are not going to be comfortable taking. PLEASE bring your own meds for however long you need them!

Ramen/Instant Food & Peanut Butter = Emergency Food

Regardless if you are eating from a dining hall or cooking for yourself, giving yourself some extra wiggle room is SOOO nice. I packed 4 cups of ramen in my suitcase since I knew I am cooking for myself. I got sick really early on my trip, so I stayed in my room and tapped into one of my instant ramens instead of going out into the cold.

Contrary to popular belief, most students won’t have utensils or anything of the sort when you move in. Plus, the nearest Ikea may be nearly a 30-minute commute and the nearest grocer may be a 20-minute walk away, which is a nightmare to find if you don’t know the area. Give yourself a break and you’ll thank me later!

Note: Peanut butter is always cheaper and better in the US. Hands down.

Unlocked Smartphone

If you are in love with your phone and never want to leave it at home, unlock it with your provider before you bring it.  The SIM cards are so cheap here with monthly plans ranging between 10 and 15 pounds. If you pay 15 pounds a month, you can have 300 minutes of talk, 3000 texts, and unlimited data through certain phone carriers here!

JUST BE EXTREMELY VIGILANT AND DON’T BE A VICTIM TO PICKPOCKETS! Especially iPhone owners!

Strong Umbrella

Rule of thumb: EVERYTHING IS CRAZY EXPENSIVE HERE. Buy a small, durable umbrella in the states and pack it in your check-in luggage. Every small umbrella here is either super cheap and flimsy or just too expensive.

For You Ladies Out There…

Although birth control is free here, everything else is really expensive. Make yourself as comfortable as possible and if that’s eating your favorite chocolate or having your favorite blanket, just bring it. Also, prepare at least a Costco-pack worth of feminine products since it will save you money in the long-run!

A Very Sherlock Afternoon

With some of my free time today, a few friends and I decided to explore some of the most iconic pop culture locations of London’s famous detective!

First Stop

Guess where?

Believe it or not, BBC’s Sherlock filmed Baker Street on North Gower Street, literally right across from UCL!

This is seriously one of the places I most looked forward to visit since arriving at London!

Surprisingly, the street was relatively empty! Aside from the occasional passing tourist, we were basically the only ones there! If y’alls don’t know, I am in LOVE with BBC’s Sherlock and get super excited and nerdy when anyone mentions the show! I think I am partly responsible for most of the Sherlock viewers at my home institution.

BBC Sherlock Filming Location: North Gower Street

Last Stop

After a surprisingly short time at North Gower Street, we took the tube to 221B Baker Street!

That is actually the line to get into the museum…

Once we arrived, we saw the ridiculously long line and it was getting dark outside. On top of that, the cost to go in was 6 pounds (almost $11) just to see two tiny floors of old furniture and staged props. None of us wanted to wait for that, so we contented ourselves at the lovely gift shop.

I had way to much fun that day

Grabbing a Drink at Hudson’s House at the St. Giles Hotel

After watching Spamalot, our group decided to find a pub to sit down and relax over some drinks. After getting turned away from three bars, we finally realized that pubs close early here (11 PM!).

The only place open was Hudson’s House at the St. Giles Hotel, so my new friends Cheyenne and Mary grabbed a table and I joined them with my own pint of Asahi beer (I know, not very special). I really enjoyed the Asahi and found the company extremely refreshing after wandering the city for over an hour!

Dinner at L’Ulivo Before Watching Spamalot

The end of our official tour led us right to the theater showing tonight’s showing of Spamalot in West End!  

Since we had enough time, a few of us decided to stop by L’Ulivo, a surprisingly good Italian restaurant almost a block away from the theater.

Spaghetti marinara with olives and anchovies

Given the location of the restaurant, for under 10 pounds, we received American-sized portions of yummy pasta, which are rare in London! The walking tour left us all starving so everyone finished their plates clean before heading over to enjoy the West End production of Spamalot! 

London Orientation at St. Giles Hotel

After a not-so-great sleep, I went downstairs to the hotel canteen for some breakfast. They mainly had hearty options, so this is what I got:

The hotel’s version of English Breakfast: eggs, beans, potatoes, sausage, and toast

At around 10 AM, we went to the hotel’s basement conference rooms for a meeting with the IFSA-Butler representatives about the cultural differences between the US and the UK as well as some safety tips of living in London. The safety talk was led by a very charismatic London police officer and he nearly scared the pants off everyone in the room. Although he was very friendly, we left the lecture believing we would be robbed blind everywhere we went!

In hindsight, I am super grateful that I had these lectures early in my stay than later, since it made me more aware of my surroundings and actions. I am extremely naive and completely clueless about how to protect myself or behave in a large city!

After nearly two hours of orientation meetings, we all went upstairs to partake in the hotel’s lunch.

Hotel’s lunch: pasta, steamed veggies, and mushroom chicken

We had more meetings after lunch, covering a wide range of topics from academics to student services. The program provided us with maps, pamphlets, and virtually everything we could possibly need to navigate our way around the city on our own. What would I do without them?

Drinks at Tom Cribb Pub Near Leicester Square

We were walking back from Trafalagar Square when it began pouring rain on us! We’ve been wanting to explore a bar that night, but the rain forced us to duck into the first shop we saw. I’ve never been so pleased with such a serendipitous adventure at Tom Cribb Pub near Leicester Square!

Tom Cribb is a tiny, rustic bar with a maximum occupancy of around 20 guests.  I think our soaking group took the bartender by surprise, but he seemed more than happy to serve us (without carding). For the next two hours, we spent the time getting to know each other over some lovely drinks.

Yours truly making friends at the pub over half a pint of Guinness!

I never had Bulmer’s cider, but it was the most amazing drink I had in recent memory!

Our photographer of the night! I let her go crazy with my camera!

I am frankly surprised at how well I am orienting myself in the city! I feel very comfortable with the geography of the West End and have been deemed by the group at everyone’s city navigator (quite contrary to how I usually am)! The London map takes some time to get used to, but I’ve never been happier taking a walk around the city with new friends!

Dinner at Zizzi’s Charlotte Street with IFSA-Butler Group

After a most-needed afternoon nap, IFSA-Butler took the 60+ students who arrived that day to Zizzi’s Charlotte Street, about a ten-minute walk away from the hotel.

We had a pre-set two course menu specifically catered for the IFSA-Butler group.

I ordered the goat cheese salad with mint, zucchini, green beans, lentils, romaine, and garlic French bread sticks.

For dessert, I ordered an amazing tiramisu! Can hardly go wrong with tiramisu!

Arriving in London and a Start to the IFSA-Butler Orientation

After a 5-hour flight from LAX to JFK, a 3-hour layover, a 1-hour delay, and a 6-hour flight, I finally arrived in LONDON! [Math: 15 hours of travel time!]

My group flight from JFK was delayed an hour so we arrived a little later than expected at London Heathrow Airport. Representatives from the IFSA-Butler met the 65 of us outside the baggage claim and shuttled us to the St. Giles Hotel for our three-day orientation.

Most of us were placed in double rooms throughout the hotel. It wasn’t until later that I realized there were over 100 students staying for the three-day orientation in London! Luckily, I did not have a roommate for the first night, so I did not really have to worry about the limited space for the time being.

That day, I attempted to get my phone all sorted out but instead of being productive, I passed out for a few hours until dinner.

My uneventful lunch that day. Never knew anyone could get pizza to taste wrong… the Brits.

Landed in JFK!

Landed in JFK safely and it snowed! Since I bought my domestic plane ticket separately from the group flight, I had to wait at the baggage carousel to pick them up and recheck them in. I opened my passport to show to the lady at the counter and I was surprised when an envelope fell out of it! Nearly made me cry on the spot (I’m super sentimental)!

She hid a present in my passport!

Snow at JFK

Inside my Virgin America flight to JFK

Security took nearly an hour to navigate at JFK, but once I got to my terminal, everything was fine. I managed to chat with a few IFSA-Butler students there while scarfing down the first real meal I ate all day. Everyone was buzzing with stress, exhaustion, and excitement and the terminal and once we got on the flight, there was no going back!

The journey to London itself was very pleasant, since I was seated next to very personable American students who were also part of my study abroad program. We spent our time chatting over the new season of Sherlock, the amazing service provided by Virgin Atlantic, and the fact that we could order alcohol when flying over international waters (woohoo!).

Some students got super drunk on the way to Heathrow

Chicken Tikka Massala served on the flight. It was surprisingly “Trader Joe’s” good!

My lovely and friendly flight neighbors