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Or Naive Spoiled Canadian Girl Abroad
It has been a humbling few days for me, as my carelessness and ignorance have reached seemingly new heights. Here is my story. Feel free to laugh out loud. I’m sure I am too, because if you are reading this, I am back online. *it’s a long one
Part 1 – the cell phone
There were some serious power outages last week (October 15-17) so I made sure to charge up my devices at work on Thursday October 18th. I was pretty proud of my forward thinking, knowing that I would be able to read my ebooks, use my laptop and have a reliable flashlight on my phone. Well, when I got home and opened up my backpack and purse I saw that I did not have my phone. I laughed off my carelessness for leaving it on my desk after charging it. I even sent a quick email to some coworkers admitting that I left it on my desk.
Then, Friday morning I was standing outside the gate chatting with my neighbour Noreen (the lovely lady next door I have been talking with each morning while waiting for my ride) when a fellow who works for another neighbour, Gary, stopped to ask if I had dropped anything last night. I said “my cell phone! I thought I left it on my desk!”. Gary then informed me that a fellow worker had found it on the drive just outside the gate. Ugh! And he had not left the phone with Gary, but took it with him for safe keeping. He and Gary discussed that he would wait until I called him and then we would arrange to get the phone to me.
There are two kickers here:
- this fellow lives in a rural community more than 40kms from Harare and he would be off work and home until the following Thursday – yes a whole week!
- I keep my phone on silent so how would he know I was calling unless it was in his hand so he could see it light up.
I guess there is a third kicker – the current economic climate in Zimbabwe makes getting fuel for your vehicle quite a difficult and lengthy process. Enticing him into the city would take some US dollars – at least that I have!
Friday morning at work my colleague Claperton was able to reach the fellow. He called a couple of times to no avail, but then the man called his number back. Success! The phone was located, I had the number of the man with the phone and thought we had arranged for him to bring it to me Saturday. I said I would give $20US for gas, but then decided I would do $30 instead.
- Saturday – no phone. Sunday morning I figured out the landline situation where I am staying. That’s a bit of a tale itself involving moving one phone set to another phone jack and experimenting a bit. I used the landline and was able to contact the fellow who found it. It was difficult speaking with him. He speaks English well, but he speaks quickly and I have an entirely different accent, resulting in me asking him to repeat himself a lot. He wanted to text me when he got to the city but I only had a land line. I was saved by Fran, a friend of a friend of mine in Canada. Fran was able to arrange a meetup with the man with my phone and she also got me there! I learned the man is Tandy and he works at one of the neighbouring houses. A huge thank you to Tandy and his wife for returning my phone instead of keeping it or selling it.
Part 2 – the internet
Disclaimer: I come from the land of unlimited data. I restrict my data usage when I am told, but my host and I did not have any conversation about data limits. I discovered too late that it is noted on the Airbnb house manual, so it is my bad.
Saturday, while waiting for my phone, I decided to catch up on two of my shows and ended up successfully streaming four episodes in total. Yes, there was enough data for me to stream 4 entire episodes. But then I had NO Wi-fi. Nada! Given the aforementioned power outages, I assumed that the internet was just down even though the router was on. Hey, it happens sometimes back home…. Sunday morning I figured out what I had done.
A few problems:
- I had not yet figured out the landline situation. It is why I figured it out. I found a phone attached to the wall but it wouldn’t let me call anything. It had a very odd dial tone and was just useless. See the photo for the age of the technology. At least it isn’t a rotary phone!
- I had no phone to access mobile data, to contact my travelling host or to access my emergency contacts which I keep in a Samsung note on my phone. (That shortsightedness is now being corrected btw)
I got over my helpless mind set and began problem solving.
- I moved the phone to the phone line by the router and success! I could call out. I tried calling my host but her phone must be off.
- I called the internet provider hoping to top up with my credit card. I wasn’t optimistic because I don’t have the account information but I learned what to do. I just need to get to an outlet that sells data PINs. *I did’t have to do this. Debbie, my exceedingly accommodating host upgraded the internet and now I am all good*
I typed this while I had no internet, no cell phone, no transportation and limited contacts. I was safe though. I could go next door and reach out to Noreen and her husband Adrian. I could bother Pardon, the gardener who lives on the property. I could dial Fran incessantly until she picks up. And I am in a safe neighbourhood. Some embassy people live here. I have seen armed guards patrolling the area. The golden retriever Bronxie for company. I also have digital tv, enough to eat, a pool, and a beautiful property to enjoy.
Now all is well. I have been taken care of my some lovely ladies in Zimbabwe – Debbie, Fran and Tandy’s wife (and Tandy of course). I will keep my phone close, stop streaming and abusing Wi-fi data and live just slightly more modestly (reasonably?) than my spoiled North American self is accustomed to at home.
The phone that saved me: 
A Travelling Accountant 