I am an international student from India so I’m pretty familiar with using technology abroad and the struggles you face with it, having experienced it a few times before. I therefore came into London completely prepared for any sort of technology huddle I could experience. I had an international sim card with me, my phone was contract less, I was carrying UK and Europe plug convertors and two fully charged power banks (note: power banks are no longer permitted in many flights), and I had maps and directions written down in case everything else failed.
Turns out, I didn’t end up needing any of the above. Since my phone is contract less, it was very easy getting a sim plan. I did a little research, found the better phone companies, entered the store of the first company that I could find and got a new phone number with 4G and lots of calls and texts. I found that my phone plan is much cheaper here and much easier to update, and I pay only £15 for 2.5 GB of data per month. I use EE, and for anyone planning to get a sim while in London, I would definitely recommend it. It is also very convenient to use when I am travelling across Europe. I have a range of plans that I can choose from depending on where I am going on Europe, and I get really good services at really cheap rates abroad. However, it is very important that you have a contract less phone, preferably a smart phone. My friends from the US who are continuing to use their contract cell phones are stuck with really high rates of service.
As for the convertor plug, my housing provided me with a free one when I was moving in, and that is the only one I am allowed to use as a safety precaution. Every now and then we have electricians come in to our rooms and check the status of our electrical appliances as a safety check, so that is very reassuring for the safety of the building as well as for my appliances. I have followed the rules and so have been fortunate enough to not run into any troubles with my appliances, but my friends on the other hand have found that their appliances got burnt and stopped functioning because they were using substandard convertor plugs.
As far as other technology is concerned, the facilities available here are pretty much like the facilities back home in Northeastern. We have printers, copiers and fax machines in the library. I miss having them in more buildings than just the library, like we did in Northeastern. However, we also have printers and copiers in my hall of housing so that makes things simpler. All of these printers generally exist in the computer rooms in the library or in our hall. We don’t have any printing allowances and so have to constantly recharge our accounts to be able to print.
You realize how much the world is getting globalized when it is so easy and natural to adjust to new technology in any part of the world. It is a great feeling since it reduces any form or strangeness or cultural shock you experience when you are in another part of the world. It is the one language that is common across cultures and the one habit that almost all cultures can relate to. However, it is very important to come prepared for this very reason, since I have found that the adjustment process in a new surroundings becomes so much easier when you have smooth transitions in such basic aspects such as technology.
