Before I left for Denmark last semester, my sister bought me a watch with two faces: one set for Central time and the other seven hours ahead for Copenhagen. Though practical in theory, in practice I still ended up calling her half a dozen times at 3 a.m. gushing with stories, only to be met with her monotone response of “Sleep. I want sleep. Call you tomorrow.”  

Keeping in touch with those at home while I was away was a lot more difficult than I initially anticipated. Not only was I separated by multiple time zones, but I also faced a big adjustment when it came to access to 24/7 technology (as in I didn’t have it). With Internet spotty at best, Skype calls were often cut short and never quite as clear as I wanted them to be. In the end I relied on my cell phone plan a lot more than I imagined I would.

While abroad I opted for a PicCell plan recommended by my program. PicCell Wireless is a company that specializes in international communication for customers who need to rent a phone temporarily. It provides a cheap way to stay connected to home. But be forewarned: this is not your average iPhone.

PicCells are flip phones that look about a decade old. They enable customers to receive calls from the U.S. for free and only allow texting and calling to those in your same country with your country’s SIM card (i.e. my mom could call me for free and I could still text my Danish friends for free). Yet, before you let an elitist iPhone attitude dismiss the potential of a PicCell for travels abroad, hear me out.

I never regretted this communication choice. Maybe this has something to do with the fact that I still use and operate a LG flip phone circa 2009, but let me continue.

When you’re studying abroad it’s okay to fall off the grid, so to speak — it’s kind of the point. Though those first few days you may feel isolated and scared and want to call Mom every second something unexpected happens — well, tough love — she’s most likely asleep.

Ultimately choosing a phone plan that limits your screen-time is going to be make your study abroad experience that much more enriching. Though I can’t argue against the convenience of having a friend with an iPhone when you’re in need of directions, and the movie starts in 20 minutes and you’ve wondered into a neighborhood you’ve never been to, I will say in the long run, you’re meant to get a little lost. If you’re glued to your phone, simply put, you aren’t going to experience what’s off the screen and on the streets as much as you should.  

Yet, if you’re as dependent on your iPhone as you are on, say a limb, then don’t worry there are international plans that make the transition seamless through your normal carrier’s (AT&T, Verizon, etc.) world package — but be aware of the price tag. International roaming isn’t cheap, and just think, wouldn’t you rather put your money toward a spontaneous trip to Budapest than toward a phone bill?

That’s what my mother would call perspective.

Emily is a senior in LAS and can be  reached at [email protected].