It didn't even take a day for me to return home.
The airship took me to Summerset City. After that, I had to pay for myself to return to Winter City using the teleportation hub. From there, I returned home on my own, just like when I returned from the academy.
First, when we were in Valtis City, personal phones were not allowed. Everything has to go through the official lines, where everything would be recorded. So no privacy there if you speak with outsiders.
Even the city was fully under surveillance, recording everything that is happening in the streets. There are cameras in the buildings too.
The only private place would be your quarters, where things won't be recorded by the officials. So whatever you want to do or talk and for that to remain private, it can only be done in your own quarters and nowhere else. Everywhere else, there are recorders and everything would be recorded.
