When Things Once Again Go Wrong

So as predicted, I knew I would encounter many failures on my trip, but maybe failures is the wrong word for it.  I would prefer to call them "learning experiences".  Because well, if you ever find yourself in Paris with damaged luggage and an iPhone that will not send iMessages, then I have definitely learned what NOT to do. 

 

First things first, if your luggage is damaged, do NOT lug the empty damaged luggage around the city of Paris in the summer heat to find the train that takes you to the airport, while trying to figure out how to purchase a ticket for said train.  Then, under NO circumstances are you to actually get on the train with said empty/broken luggage and actually ride it all the way to the airport.  Then, worst of all, you should definitely NOT find the terminal you arrived in, get special permission from the airport to access said terminal, then proceed to have a conversation with the woman at the terminal.  Because she will tell you that there is a store in Paris that will sell you a new luggage and that all you needed to do was email in a picture of the damages.  And then you will have to lug said luggage back to your house, and once again up 5 flights of stairs.

 

Next, if your iPhone has service, can send texts in France, can access wifi, and can access 3G, DO NOT let the people at the phone store tell you that you don't know what you are talking about.  It is YOUR phone, you know how it is supposed to work.  Then, do NOT let the guy at the first phone store tell you he can't help you and that you need to call a French helpline.  Then most definitely do NOT call that number.  You will not be able to understand what they are saying and will end up after a long time pressing buttons trying to speak with someone, having an extremely unsuccessful conversation in which a man that speaks no English will inevitably hang up on you.  Then, once you go to a different phone store, hoping for nicer customer service, do NOT let them tell you that the problem is with the device itself, and that you need to go to the Apple Store.  Because once you haul your frustrated self across town, Apple will tell you that the problem is with the phone service.  So make sure then to NOT go to a third phone store.  Because they will tell you that they are not a big enough phone store to help you and that you need to go to a phone store with technical support.  Because, WITHOUT A DOUBT you will find yourself back at the EXACT SAME phone store that you started at... Just to find out that the problem is that you have a faulty SIM card and they aren't getting another shipment in until the end of the week  -___-