Communication Technologies and their influences
24 hours unplugged assignment
May 26, 2021
CM1007
Renata Rocha
Isa Schuit
560545
Word Count: 550
Unexpectedly unreachable
My 24 hours without the internet did not at all go as planned. 2 weeks ago, on a Saturday, I
was at my friend’s house in Amsterdam. My friend went away for the weekend, so I stayed in her
apartment to relax. When my phone suddenly stopped working, I freaked out. Only after 24 hours, I
managed to go online again. In this essay, I will discuss things that went through my mind these 24
hours.
‘How am I going to find the address of the house viewing?’ I was in Amsterdam and had a
house viewing in Rotterdam on Sunday. ‘How do I know what train to take and what was the location
of the viewing again? And what if a train gets cancelled?’ These thoughts drove me crazy; I had to buy
a new phone. But how? I had to make an appointment at the Apple Store, but this goes through their
online platforms. I had no other devices with me, so an appointment was no option.
With the help of others
Sunday, I decided to go to the Apple Store anyway. I asked people on the streets for directions
and arrived after 1 hour, even though it was only a 20-minute walk. Maps on my phone would have
saved me much time.
When the Apple Store workers denied me at the door, because I had no appointment, I started
crying. After explaining the story to 3 employees, they wanted to arrange something for me. There
was a spot that got free, in 3 hours from then. Not ideal but I was happy with it. But how was I going
to entertain myself for 3 hours in the centre of Amsterdam, without a phone, stores were closed.
3 hours later it was my turn to go in. I discussed the opportunities, and the only option was
buying a new phone. When I tried to pay for my phone, it turned out I had a limit of 500 euros per
transaction on my bank card. This limit can be changed with the bank app on my phone, which was
broken. ‘Sh*t”’. The panic was real, but in the end, I figured it out. One worker of the Apple Store let
24 hours unplugged assignment
May 26, 2021
CM1007
Renata Rocha
Isa Schuit
560545
Word Count: 550
Unexpectedly unreachable
My 24 hours without the internet did not at all go as planned. 2 weeks ago, on a Saturday, I
was at my friend’s house in Amsterdam. My friend went away for the weekend, so I stayed in her
apartment to relax. When my phone suddenly stopped working, I freaked out. Only after 24 hours, I
managed to go online again. In this essay, I will discuss things that went through my mind these 24
hours.
‘How am I going to find the address of the house viewing?’ I was in Amsterdam and had a
house viewing in Rotterdam on Sunday. ‘How do I know what train to take and what was the location
of the viewing again? And what if a train gets cancelled?’ These thoughts drove me crazy; I had to buy
a new phone. But how? I had to make an appointment at the Apple Store, but this goes through their
online platforms. I had no other devices with me, so an appointment was no option.
With the help of others
Sunday, I decided to go to the Apple Store anyway. I asked people on the streets for directions
and arrived after 1 hour, even though it was only a 20-minute walk. Maps on my phone would have
saved me much time.
When the Apple Store workers denied me at the door, because I had no appointment, I started
crying. After explaining the story to 3 employees, they wanted to arrange something for me. There
was a spot that got free, in 3 hours from then. Not ideal but I was happy with it. But how was I going
to entertain myself for 3 hours in the centre of Amsterdam, without a phone, stores were closed.
3 hours later it was my turn to go in. I discussed the opportunities, and the only option was
buying a new phone. When I tried to pay for my phone, it turned out I had a limit of 500 euros per
transaction on my bank card. This limit can be changed with the bank app on my phone, which was
broken. ‘Sh*t”’. The panic was real, but in the end, I figured it out. One worker of the Apple Store let
