Keeping in Touch

You’re finally in Europe and you’re all set to go on your grand backpacking adventure. You’ve planned for this moment for a long time and last night, as your plane cruised over the Atlantic, you couldn’t sleep a wink in your excitement. But before you start catching trains and hitch hiking to Prague, stop for a moment and think of those whom you have left behind. If you couldn’t sleep due to excitement, most probably, your parents or loved ones at the other side of the world couldn’t sleep either. Not from excitement, but from worry.

Backpacking through Europe is not something that can be done over the weekend. Sometimes, a backpacker can be gone for weeks, or months on end. It is important that you, as a backpacker, keep in touch with those in base camp, to let them know where you are, and to reassure them that you are safe.

There are many ways by which you can contact your loved ones while you’re exploring the fascinating nooks and crannies of old Europe. It’s really not hard to communicate as there are only two viable methods, and you can start by using the simplest and most traditional form of all.

Every city in Europe has bookshops or newspaper stands that, not only sell dailies and magazines, but carry picturesque postcards of the city’s main attractions as well. Why don’t you grab a couple, scribble a few lines and pop it in the nearest mailbox (don’t forget to use stamps). They’ll be delighted to see where you’ve been and, if they are philatelic junkies, getting those European stamps would be an added bonus.

If you’re in to speed, and can’t wait to tell everyone that the Black Forest in Germany really is a forest and not actually a cake, then drop by an internet café and send them an email. Use your free email account to narrate your latest experience. If you don’t have a free account, then make one — it really doesn’t take much time. With a free email account, you can send and receive messages from whatever internet shop your feet may lead you to.

Another option is for you to call. If you did not want to be reached by anyone and left your handy phone at home, you can use the phones that are available at hotels (even inns and hostels have phones) or use any of the public pay phones in the city (call collect so your money will not run out).

In case you’re the type who needs to have a handy phone in order to survive, there are other ways you can contact your loved ones without going bankrupt on international roaming charges.

You can purchase pre-paid SIM cards. A pre-paid SIM card from your home country or from the country (or countries) you will be visiting will suffice. You can call and be called using this number and you won’t be subjected to too many charges. A downside, however, is if you run out of call credits and loading up on new ones would be difficult. To prevent this, use your pre-paid SIM cards sparingly.

Purchasing phone cards is another option. These cards are pre-loaded with a specific amount and by punching in a code, you will be able to make calls and the charges shall be debited from the card itself. You can buy pre-loaded phone cards from your country of origin; and you may also buy these from the city you are in. Before using these, check the rates and see which one is easier and more economical to use.

Although calling home is not a must for someone as independent as you, it would be good if you did call every so often. Don’t just contact your loved ones only when you run out of money or are in trouble. Reach out to them anytime, even if it’s just to say “hi”. This gesture may seem really trivial and unnecessary to you, but for those who are sitting on pins and needles wondering where and how you are, this small act will mean a lot and they will appreciate you for it.