Buying a Mobile Phone

Although prior to leaving Australia I had purchased a mobile phone and set up international roaming it didn't work. I contacted the supplier to be told that they are very sorry they have no network in China! Why didn't they tell me this when I bought the phone???

So here I am after my first sleep in Tai'an thinking I can buy a SIM card. I did it in Thailand, Laos and Vietnam should be a piece of cake in China. Not so.

This was an experience. I went into one store near the campus, I did all sorts of explaining with people who spoke little to no English. I decided this was too hard and went to a large store of China Mobile. I had a phone I wanted a SIM card. After what felt like an eternity I decided this was all too hard.

I was then told by another teacher that someone in the office could help me and there was a shop on Campus. Armed with this information I went to the office and went to purchase a SIM card. This was not possible. I would also have to purchase a phone. The school shop didn't sell phones, however I could buy a SIM Card. So I bought a SIM card for Y100Y with Y150 ($25) credit. I was advised that this should last me the 10 months in China!

The Chinese are very superstitious and they like phone numbers with the number 8 in them. There is a big wall of numbers and you choose your preferred number. I'm not that concerned and choose the next available number. I have no chance of every remembering the number. It doesn't start with 04! Some people spend a life time selecting the perfect number.