Since I have a GSM world phone, it can be used in any country that has a GSM cell phone carrier. That’s T-Mobile in the US and Vodafone in New Zealand. Rather than pay excessive roaming charges, the prudent course is to have an account in each country and just switch the SIM card within the phone.

 

I have SIM cards for T-Mobile US and Vodafone NZ. Before leaving, I carefully packed the Vodafone SIM cards within a stack of other plastic travel cards that I wouldn’t need day-to-day, but might need, and bound them all up with an elastic band.

 

When I finally got out of Customs & Immigration, I took a break to change over the SIM cards. But I couldn’t find the packet of cards anywhere in my luggage. This is a problem, since the packet not only included the SIM cards, but also my US ATM card (not that I expected to need it, but it would be an emergency source of funds).

 

All I could think of, in my sleep-deprived state is that I bundled up the cards and then left them on my desk, or in its drawer at home in Cohasset.

 

Since it would take at least a week to have them mailed, I figured that the simplest option was to get another Vodafone Pre-paid card temporarily. I stop at the Vodafone store at the mall opposite the ferry building and I was $35NZ lighter and had a new card and phone number.

 

So I trundled over to the ferry, called my friend Mark, who was picking me up, and sat down to wait. I decided to store my passport, which I had in my shirt pocket, back into the security wallet that is like a money belt. I pulled it out, saw the bulge, and an expletive was uttered. There were the cards, hiding in my pants all along.