I don’t have Wi-Fi at my apartment. What now?
Photo Credit: Lesli Whitecotton on Unsplash
April 18, 2023 | Amqui, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Québec
Since September 2022, I have not had Wi-Fi at my apartment. This was not intentional but a result of my landlord.
I was not allowed to install fibre optic wires in my building. Thus, I had no Wi-Fi. At first, I was devastated. I didn’t know how I was going to work or watch Netflix. I changed my phone plan to have more data than before; I have 25 gbs of high-speed data, then an unlimited amount of slow data… very slow. Over the next few months, I learned the schedule of the library, where I could go to download movies and shows from streaming services. I spent one or two hours at the library each Saturday, downloading movies and shows, as well as catching up on any TikToks I’d missed. It became my ritual. I was comfortable with it, and it was a safe routine for many months.
Photo Credit: Elisa Ventur on Unsplash
However, I learned something unfortunate. Prime Video has a limit on how much content you can download. I’m not sure if it’s a gigabyte maximum or a number of titles/episodes, but there is a limit, and I hit that limit fast. I was at the library one weekend when Amazon Prime told me I couldn’t download any more titles. I had been deleting all my videos, so I did not understand why I couldn’t download any more titles. I re-read the message; I could only download Amazon originals. That was very disappointing. Now, you might be asking, what about Netflix? Who doesn’t have Netflix? It is true; I do have Netflix, but they have been starting to crack down on their password sharing. I have stopped using it as I was using my parents’ Netflix, so I have primarily been using Amazon Prime (I know, screw Jeff Bezos). I even tried to use my parents’ Amazon Prime, but I quickly ran into the same problem. So, I am now stuck with only downloading Amazon Prime originals on my computer.
“I found myself much calmer and more rested after working on these paint-by-numbers. It feels like I got to be creative without thinking.”
The second paint-by-number kit done by Nadine Steinley.
Photo Credit: Nadine Steinley, 2023.
I also tried to use my best friend’s Disney Plus. However, they only allow downloads on mobile devices (i.e., phones, tablets, etc..). So, I can download videos and watch them, but only on my phone, which lowkey sucks. I feel like I am 12 years old again, discovering my unsupervised Netflix privileges.
So, with my newfound streaming issues, I have needed to find new ways to occupy myself and ways to unwind. One of these ways has been with paint-by-numbers. I figured I would like them, so I went to Dollarama and picked one up. It was not of great quality, but it sufficed. I quickly fell in love with it. I finished it in a week. I was proud of my work, but the paint quality and the brushes made it hard to feel satisfied. I went to Amazon and found one that I liked. When it arrived, I got right to work. I finished that one in less than a week. I spent about 3 hours per day working away at it. The paint quality and the good brushes made it much more enjoyable.
During this time, I also listened to two audiobooks and several podcasts in French to help improve my French skills. I found myself much calmer and more rested after working on these paint-by-numbers. It feels like I got to be creative without thinking. I also took the chance to work on my knitting projects, although I haven’t finished any of those yet.
“We always hear about how bad screens are for us and how spending so much time online negatively impacts us, but I’ve never taken it to heart. ”
Now, after I’ve figured this out and found a way to deal with it, I have decided to move, which means I will have Wi-Fi soon. I considered not moving because I knew that having Wi-Fi would mean I would be more connected, and not having Wi-Fi meant that I could disconnect from the world. Once I move, I think I will take this as a learning experience. We always hear about how bad screens are for us and how spending so much time online negatively impacts us, but I’ve never taken it to heart. I knew how bad screens are for us, but I’ve never experienced the other side for myself. I enjoy my Wi-fi-less apartment and will definitely miss the forced disconnectedness, but I know I will also benefit from and feel some relief from finally having Wi-Fi. Unfortunately, we live in a world of perpetual connectedness, so it is necessary to have Wi-Fi at my apartment, but I will forever remember my year of forced disconnectedness.
Author
Nadine Steinley
Community Liaison (Amqui, Bas-Saint-Laurent)
for Y4Y Québec
