Bumblebee
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Posts posted by Bumblebee
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Don't pretty much all modern-day carriers use GSM? The main difference between the US and Europe in that regard is that they use different GSM frequencies--specifically, most providers in Europe work on GSM 900/1800 while in the US most of them use GSM 850/1900. The problem arises if your phone can only work on one set of frequencies, i.e., you can't use a dual-band European-market GSM 900/1800 phone in the States since it won't support the GSM frequencies used in the US and vice versa. However, a lot of phones nowdays are quad-band, meaning they support all four frequencies and can thus be used either in the US or in Europe--you just need to check that in your phone specifications.
I think some carriers in the US don't use GSM. Verizon, for example, uses a different one (CDMA or somthing like that). That's why the Nexus One, for example, cannot be used with Verizon. It needs to be adapted. At least, that's what I've been told.
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My pay as you go ATT sim card didn't work when I tried to put in my own (unlocked) phone, then also didn't work when I put it back in the original crap phone I got it with. I had to go back to the store, where they "fixed" it but said I could only use the ATT phone, not one I got elsewhere. I still think it's a scam but since I only have the phone for emergencies anyway I decided I didn't care enough to find out who I need to yell at to get it fixed. Make sure the sim is transferable before you buy it.
This issue with the sim card, does it happen when you get a contract too? My father has given me an unlocked HTC phone that I plan to take with me and use with a US carrier. I was thinking of ATT since I get a discount through the university and it's GSM (same as phones here in Europe).
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My new place sent me the lease documents. I signed all of them, made copies for myself, and mailed the originals back with the deposit check. Sent everything with delivery confirmation to have a record that they received my stuff.
I did the exact same thing. My landlady sent me a confirmation e-mail as soon as she got both the deposit check and the lease (which I had previously photocopied) and then she sent me a copy signed by her. She was really nice through the whole process (she has even offered to give me a ride to the house the day I arrive).
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Thanks a lot for the tip!
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I'm assuming that you're going to Bloomington and I hope that you know that there are some really great restaurants tucked into that small town (though I'll admit that I didn't have any Spanish food when I went there to visit). If you're not going to Bloomington, well, that sucks lol.
Yes, I'm going to Bloomington. I already checked the restaurants and supermarkets and all I could find was Latin American stores/restaurants. Fortunately I know of a store in Virginia that sells Spanish food online. They don't have all the things I like and it can be quite expensive, but I will definitely use it when I have a serious "homesickness crisis". American customs and borders don't help either. I cannot bring many things from Spain and I just don't want to risk having my luggage opened and having to pay a fine. :-(
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I'm spending my last weeks of holidays with my family before I move to Indiana. In the meantime, I'm enjoying all my beloved Spanish food, which I won't be able to taste for almost a year (I have a wedding in South America in early January, so I'll be spending Christmas there), I'm enjoying the Spanish team's victories in the World Cup, I'm trying to read some articles on Hispanic Linguistics and I'm getting ready for my visa interview.
Luckily, I already have an apartment (and it's furnished, so I'll have a bed to sleep in my first night in Bloomington) and I cannot register until my orientation week (last week of August), which means I don't need to worry about courses just yet.
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From my experience, I can tell you that 2-3 hours is enough. Sometimes I have 1 1/2 hours to do everything (immigration and customs) and I manage to get to my boarding gate in time for the next flight. I don't know whether it's your first time in the US or not, but if it is, don't forget to pick up your luggage from the belt to go through customs. The first time I travelled to the US my luggage got stuck in Chicago because I had no idea I had to do it.
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My heart hopes Spain will win, but being realistic I think Argentina or Germany have more possibilities of winning the World Cup.
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My term starts on August 30th. The week before classes start I have my department orientation and that's when I'll have the appointment with my advisor. I won't be able to register until then. However, I already know the courses I'll be taking since I already met with my advisor during my campus visit.
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@lion22: Yeah, I agree with Bumblebee: in your case I'd put "self" as well.
@Bumblebee: I'm pretty sure that "trip" in this sense is not just the physical trip from where you are to where your school is, but your entire stay in the US. I decided to go with the evidence (I-20) and put "my school" there since it's listed on the form as the source of funds for that more expensive part of the trip.
Ah, ok! I thought trip referred to the plane ticket.
I would have thought the word used in that case would be "stay", but thanks for the clarification. In that case, I'll write down that it's the school who's going to pay for my trip. Now I won't mess up my visa application! 
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What do you think I should put in response to --Person/entity paying for your trip when I have partial fund (tution waiver)
Is it better to answer self or organization?
I would put you're paying your own trip. From what you say, the school is only paying for your tuition, so it's up to you to pay the trip to the US. I will get a stipend from my school, but I will still write that I'm paying for it since I have already bought it and haven't started getting the money from the school.
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Pretty Woman
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gold bar
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The deposit came from Apple so I don't think other phones will have the same problem.
Thanks a lot for your info!
I guess I'll go for a different phone, then. -
Thanks for your replies. Do you know if the 500 deposit also works for the rest of the phones in ATT? There's no way I can afford a $500 deposit, especially at the beginning of the school year, with so many expenses.
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Hi! I have a question concerning phone plans in the US. I have been living in the country for 3 years and I have a pay-as-you-go phone with AT&T. But now that I'm going to grad school, I want to get the iPhone. I have a SSN but I don't have a US credit history (I'm allergic to credit cards, I don't like them at all). Would that be a problem to get a contract with AT&T? Will I have to pay a deposit? (I will run short of money at the beginning of the year if I have to).
Note: Despite my allergy towards credit cards, I'm aware that I will need one if I want to live in this country, so I'll be getting one in August (sigh), but I'm afraid it won't help towards my credit history.
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car wash
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tourist industry
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high heels
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horse riding
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traffic camera
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score card
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school bus
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production line
Cell phones?
in Officially Grads
Posted · Edited by Bumblebee
Ok! Thank you all for your advice. I'll bring my cell phone with me when I go to get the contract in order to check whether the sim card works. And thanks intextrovert for the article. It was nice seeing that I'm not the only person who thinks that the cell phone system in the US is insane
. I thought it was just a matter of cultural difference with the way things are done in Europe, but apparently more Americans agree with this.