Cell Phone

Who could have thought that getting a cell phone could be so much work. It took me the better part of 2 days just to get one. I started of at KT, Korean Telecom. I was there for probably 3 hours. The lady who was helping me spoke little English and tried and tried to help me. We finally got on the same page and she hooked me up with a cell phone, or so I thought. She was setting up a plan and asked me for my credit card. They want a safety net against foreigners running up large bills and leaving the country. So I happily give her one. Thinking alright, three hours here and I am almost done. She looks at it questioningly, talks to a co-worker, makes some more phone calls, asks me where it is from, makes some more calls, and then says "Do you have a Korean credit card?" No I don't have a Korean credit card. Why would I have a Korean credit card? They won't give a foreigner a credit card. Oh I'm sorry, we can't give you a phone. WHAT?!?!?! 3 hours of sitting here and now you are telling me that you can't give me a phone. You could hook up my cable and my internet, NOW YOU CAN"T GIVE ME A PHONE!

Nothing I could do. Stressed out and pissed off I head back to work. My boss, who is in charge of finances of all the EPIK teachers, looks at me questioningly. "Did you get a phone?" No I didn't get a phone. Oh they won't give phones to foreigners. You told me to go there. I went there. Wasted 3 hours there. You've dealt with this situation before. God DAMN you. Oh but you might be able to get a prepaid phone. Not through them though. Why didn't you tell me this before? I scream in my head. So I she gives me a sticky note saying prepaid in Korean, that's it and sends me on my way.

So after work I head out to one of the many many many cell phone shops. They have no idea what I am talking about. Show them the note, Most of them shrug and say something to me in Korean. I have no idea what they are talking about, and it is painfully obvious that they have no idea what I am asking for. Several shops later, I find a guy who speaks bad English. Save the day! He tries to sell me a phone for $600. I ask if he's got anything cheaper. The cheapest phone? Yes oh here, It's a lime green Razr for $450.

So I head out on my way. Checking out more and more stores seeing if they have used phones or something a bit cheaper. I find one. The girl speaks no Englishee. Through my phrase book and persistence, we are able to communicate. I she shows me a phone for around $90. A bit beat up but workable. Yes. I think. I will have a phone tonight. Oh was I dreaming. She calls her friend. She speaks English. Wow. So now I am able to figure it out. I get a phone here and I have to go to the central office to get it hooked up. But they close at 6. It is 7. Good thing I work at 1 the next day. So I go to SK telecom and 45 min later the next day I finally have a phone. I have a phone that works. I have prepaid service. Ah!!