Living in India info needed

[BLing]

So I took a flying job over in India. For you guys that have taken a contract job flying overseas, what are some essential must have items that I need to bring with me? Also what is the best way to stay connected with home (Family in the US, Fiance in Germany)? Are there any good international cell phone deals that any of you have come across? Can I rely on descent internet access? Any info is appreciated.

 

[tyuwerty]

Download: Skype, MSN and Yahoo messenger. Dependiing on the quality of the internet you may only get one to work at any given time.

Buy: Universal adapter for the electricity. Extra batteries for the laptop as u will be sitting in the back of airplanes a lot from the sound of it.

When you get there you will be able to get an unlocked GSM Quad Band phone real cheap. Personally, I just get a SIM card for each country that I spend time in. I use cingular while in the US.

Flying overseas is good bank, but you will spend more on currency exchange and long distance.

 

[tyuwerty]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot:


IMODIUM!!!

You can never have enough.

 

[BLing]

Thanks for the info. Just to clarify, you exchange the SIM card in your US Cingular phone when overseas?

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

Most of the freight guys say they're using Skype to make phone calls via their laptop/internet connection.

Good Luck!
cliff
GRB

PS-What are the details on your experience & contract?

 

[MrSky]

Vick's VapoRub to put under your nose, the stench in the cities in India can be horrendous.

 

[JohnnyP]

........

Download: Skype, MSN and Yahoo messenger. Dependiing on the quality of the internet you may only get one to work at any given time.

Buy: Universal adapter for the electricity. Extra batteries for the laptop as u will be sitting in the back of airplanes a lot from the sound of it.

When you get there you will be able to get an unlocked GSM Quad Band phone real cheap. Personally, I just get a SIM card for each country that I spend time in. I use cingular while in the US.

Flying overseas is good bank, but you will spend more on currency exchange and long distance.

I agree with all of the above.

I have just started my second year of overseas contract flying.

The Skype will work, but many times I will run into a satelitte internet connection that can't handle it for whatever reason (if your floating around 3rd world nations). Also, some countries will not allow skype to work for their own reasons (like dubai, UAE), I assume forcing you to use the local phone people maybe...?...

And you will get a case of the scoots at some point, so Immodium AD will come in handy, or you can just take a dump in the cockpit like I did a few months ago. What a circus that was. (dont drink a redbull on an empty stomache in the morning i guess..?)....

I was always cautious in run-down countries, and brushed my teeth with bottled water, along with only drinking bottled water.

And I never took a cell phone with me, because one was provided, but I think theres something with the US cell's where some monkey motion is involved. So maybe just wait until you get there and buy a nice 4-band phone and get a local sim, and youll be set.

All the usual stuff your going to worry about, like soap, toothbrush, all that sort of stuff will be available wherever you go, so dont pack a seperate suitcase full of dental floss and toothpaste.

On this last venture, I only took one rollarboard and a flightkit with me, thats all I will ever need. Pack light.

one more thing, I also gave my father power of attorney (im not married), since I dont make it back stateside very often, just in case something out of the ordinary happens...something that some people don't think about.

But maybe some of this stuff only applied to me, so good luck in your adventure. Was the best thing I ever did (so far).

 

[ultrarunner]

If it were me, I'd get an Iridium hand held and be done with it. Anywhere in the world, anytime. No sim cards, etc...

simple is good.

 

[tyuwerty]

Thanks for the info. Just to clarify, you exchange the SIM card in your US Cingular phone when overseas?

Nope... Don't buy a Quad Band phone in the USA.

All of the same models are for sale overseas and are much cheaper. Pick what ever model 4 band you want to have before you leave, then just look for it when you get there. I say pick the model you want first, because they will tell you over there that all the phones are quad band when they might only be a Dual band. Dual bands don't work in the USA.

The phones purchased in the US are "locked" and will only work with one specific service provider. All the phones in Asia and the Mid East are "unlocked" and will work with any service's sim cards.

Once you get the phone, it is just a matter of going to a local service provider and getting a pre-paid package. They will give you the sim card to insert into the phone.

 

[Little Bubba]

Your Cingular phone will work in most countries if it is unlocked, but not in Korea and Japan, no matter what.

How to unlock? Just google it...

 

[NW_Pilot]

Also, some countries will not allow skype to work for their own reasons (like dubai, UAE), I assume forcing you to use the local phone people maybe...?...

Learn how to use proxy servers and/or a shell account for a bounce problem solved.

 

[fareview]

If it were me, I'd get an Iridium hand held and be done with it. Anywhere in the world, anytime. No sim cards, etc...

simple is good.

Are they expensive/

fv

 

[BLing]

Learn how to use proxy servers and/or a shell account for a bounce problem solved.

I appreciate all the useful info provided in this thread. However, I have no idea what the heck you are talking about. Could you expalain what you mean? I am sure whatever you have mentioned could be very useful to me and others. Thanks!

 

[atpcliff]

Hi!

A proxy server is needed to get around blocks that are put in place, for example, in U.A.E. UAE restricts what web sites you can go to. You can get free ones, or pay a monthly fee. That's all I know.

cliff
YIP

 

[BLing]

Hi!

A proxy server is needed to get around blocks that are put in place, for example, in U.A.E. UAE restricts what web sites you can go to. You can get free ones, or pay a monthly fee. That's all I know.

cliff
YIP

I began to look into it, and gave up. I'm too lazy to figure out the details. Maybe someday...

 

[ultrarunner]

Are they expensive/

fv

I don't know. Go to IRIDIUM.COM and find out. I just told you what I would do! ;-) as I'm into simplicity. If I recall, Iridium costs about a buck a minute or so. Can't tell you what a portable handset sets you back. But you can do some homework and let the rest of us know. Just seems MUCH more simple than screwing around with Sim cards, pre-paid plans, blah blah blah...just pick up the Iridium and "phone home". Simple is good.

 

[Vsf]

I spent much of my career overseas, and I think JohnnyP's advice in particular is good.

One thing I'll add: When you're overseas, you'll drive yourself crazy if you left any loose ends in the U.S. Your girlfriend or pals will be great about taking care of your car or your dog or your house for about 20 days...then they'll retain their normal focus in life and you'll be off the radar screen. Giving power of attorney to someone is really key, you need someone who can unf*ck things on your behalf if something happens, otherwise, it will mentally drain you as you try to push a string from overseas trying to fix something.

I'd also suggest making sure you have a top bank wherever you're going, financial snafus are common overseas and can be a bitch to troubleshoot. The shadier your employer is, the more true this is, since "the check is in the Internet" can require some good troubleshooting sometimes.

 

[gangdev]

For those of you who fly overseas, do any of you fly for an airline in India? I am curious of what the DGCA process involves now. Have they been simplifying the process at all?
I have been trying to obtain overseas citizenship of India, although it is extremely difficult - and I hear it is time consuming to get certificates transferred if you are an expat..

 

[JohnnyP]

phones

I was just looking into the phone situation again myself.

I checked into the Iridiums, and having a Sat-phone is good to keep in the plane as a back-up when your broke down somewhere and need a call. But what if your just stuck in a terminal or city, and just need to call the hotel, your company,etc?...If youve got a sat phone it might not work indoors. And I dont know about you all, but my previous attempts at getting our Thurahys (sp?) to work was frustrating. Seemed a bit touch and go as far as your chances of getting the call to go through.

My company gives us phones, but they only work in limited places, etc.

I think what im going to do, is just buy my own unlocked quad-band phone, and get seperate SIM chips for each place I frequent a lot. Just store all the sim's behind the battery area in the phone. Gets a little cumbersome but works. A downside is that your going to have 16 differernt phone numbers, so people will have a harder time getting ahold of you.

I looked into these international roaming sims, and they seemed to be quite pricey, like $3+ a minute.

Sometimes different SIMS work in other countries also.
For example, our Cyprus SIM works in Paris, the Kuwait SIM works in Switzerland, etc. I dont know how, but it just worked.

We'll see