I think if you call your phone provider, they should be able to tell you how much it will cost to call there. When I worked at a phone co. we had many customers call with that question.
I use Penny Talk to call Del's cell phone in Iraq. www.pennytalk.com they are pretty cheep I can talk to him for almost an hour on 25 dollars.
Trust me for the past 5 1/2 years I have shopped arround and used so many different cards plans and so on PennyTalk is the cheepest I have found. Columbia might even be cheeper than calling a cell phone in Iraq. I have found if you call a land line its even cheeper. So depending on where and who I would probably say hands down PennyTalk.
Salsa dancing is another thing. I will ask the girl I work with seems she is always joining some dance class. She would know. I'll let ya know tomorrow when you pick the kids up. :)
I go to the Hispanic grocery stores located on about 11th and Duluth and buy phone cards. I call Guatemala all the time. I have bought many different ones. I ask the clerk which ones are the best for the country I am calling. Just be sure to read the back before purchasing to make sure there isn't a large connection fee. I think the last one I bought was probably $3.00 and I called 3 or 4 times with it for probably 30 minutes total. I have also purchased calling cards online which is nice because you can add minutes at any time and you can see the different types with the advantages of each, countries, connection fees, cost per minute etc. I go to callingcards.com. Just know that the first transaction they have to verify, so you want to purchase a day or so in advance, then the code they give you will work. After your initial purchase you can add minutes instantly without a delay.
Also does her family have a computer? If so she can stay in touch with a webcam and msn messenger or skype. Skype is really cool and really cheap.
Stephanie~Mommy to Maria and Flora
I'm going to love you forever,
I'm going to like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be.
Oh...and as far as staying connected...she could always babysit my kids. They would all look alike and my girls would love it!! Just kidding...but I would like to introduce them to Hispanic young women that they can admire. And what's not to admire about a young girl with so much ambition that she would come here to stay for a time!! Good for her!!
Stephanie~Mommy to Maria and Flora
I'm going to love you forever,
I'm going to like you for always,
As long as I'm living
My baby you'll be.
I just signed up for Skype and it is the coolest thing! I called my mil for my first "free call" and any call after that is just 2 cents/min! Now I want all my friends and family to sign up so we can call and video call for free! This was definately a "new trick" for this "old dog" but I'm hoping it will work for Yoana and her family!
It would be neat to meet up sometime when she is here! I would love to meet your beautiful young ones, and I know she is fond of little children as well. She sent me a picture today with her baby cousin. They are both absolutely gorgeous. She sounds like a brilliant woman. She speaks four languages (Spanish, English, French, and Italian), has spent a year teaching in France, and, until this year, has been teaching English and Spanish at a local university where she lives. We are so excited to meet her in person, and just thrilled for our children to have this opportunity.
Catch my ramblings at http://bluemomblues.blogspot.com
Okay, I went to the "local experts" to find out some info about some things she may be interested in. They advised that Los Paisanos has "bandas" there regularly. Also the fairgrounds usualy has either "bandas" or "cumbias". She said both places list upcoming attractions and bands that are coming to Sioux Falls, Sioux City, or Worthington also. She also said the local tiendas like Nikkies, Tienda Leticias, and La Costena also have an idea of bands coming to the area for performances/dancing. Now I thought this strange, but Lalibela's, which is an Ethopian establishment also regularly gets in salsa and meringue type bands for dancing as well. Now, I can't help you out too much with the international calling thing! But I hope you can use some of this information!
Wow! Thanks so much! We will have to check out these places!
I know my mom uses calling cards when she calls overseas to talk to her family and friends. She says it's the cheapest way to go; I'm not sure what the sim card is I guess. I know that you can purchase calling cards online and they're way cheaper than anywhere else.
I've taken some Salsa & Aerobics lessons at Sanford Wellness Center...that's a good way to lose weight!
Have you tried the Multi-Culture Center in Sioux Falls? I believe they organize a lot of gatherings and so on. I don't know their phone #, but I'm sure you can look them up online or in the phone book.
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I know. Odd title. I wasn't sure where to put this, but I'm looking for input from all you Sioux Falls experts.
As some of you already know, we are hosting an exchange teacher from Popayan, Columbia this year. I am trying to find some local resources that will help ease the culture shock for her and allow her to remain in contact with her family.
So, a couple of questions . . .
Do any of you do significant international calling? What are the best ways to go about calling Columbia freqently without breaking the bank? We discovered that she has a cell phone that will require a sim card to be used here in Sioux Falls, but the one company that uses sim card technology doesn't offer an international calling plan from Sioux Falls. Most other companies want to sell us a two year contract, which doesn't really serve her purposes well since she will be here for only nine months. I have purchased some cheap calling cards for use on our landline, but I'm not sure what the rates are there, either. Any ideas??
Secondly, she loves salsa dancing. She lives near Cali, Columbia, which is (I guess) like the world capital of salsa dancing or something. Any ideas on where she could go to get some salsa dancing in?? I've called Ballroom at the Bridges, but haven't heard from them yet. Plus, I don't think she will really need lessons, just a place to dance and some music and an interested partner (which might not be too hard to find, since she is gorgeous!).
Also, any good ideas you have for how to make her feel welcome and comfortable in our home would be wonderful. Any of you who have spent significant time abroad, what made your stay more comfortable?