calling Erika in Kyrgyzstan:
-dial 800 number for special international calling company
-dial 10 digit account number
-dial 4 digit pin
-dial 15 digit phone number, plus pound
-get weird signal, or get cut off. or get connected, be overjoyed by the miracle of technology. spend precious minutes saying, "hi! it's so good to hear your voice!" soon after, get cut off in the middle of a sentence. weep.
-start over. repeat as many times as necessary.