As usual when I travel, I’ve arrived at the airport long before check-in for my flight even begins.
I’m not a “last minute” type of traveler by any means.
Luckily, the airport has Wi-Fi so I can kill a few minutes typing up a few thoughts about the trip I’m about to take.
1. This is my first trip to New Zealand. On top of that, it’s my first trip out of Japan in over two years. I haven’t been in a country where people speak English for a long, long time. (I’ve been living in Japan for nearly 7 years now.) Looking forward to the culture shock.
I’m also looking forward to meeting and talking with people in person – as opposed to my mainly virtual interaction with my friends and clients during most of the past seven years.
2. It’s 30 degrees C and muggy here in Japan – getting right into summer. When I arrive in Auckland, it will be winter again. I notice the high is 11 in Auckland today. My carry-on luggage is loaded with warm, heavy clothes to change into on arrival. Everone I’ve spoken to whose ever visited the country has fallen in love with it though – I don’t expect to be the exception no matter what the temperature.
3. I’m very curious to discover the level of online entrepreneurship in New Zealand. I’ve heard internet connections are pricey in New Zealand, and I have no idea about the state of mobile internet usage in the country. I have a lot to learn.
At the end of the month, I’ll be attending the World Internet Summit in Auckland too, so I hope to meet plenty of local online entrepreneurs then – if not before.
(If you read this and you’re going, be sure to let me know via my contact page – maybe we can meet up?)
4. I’m really looking forward to meeting up with my business partner in Auckland. He’s had me working on some incredible projects since the beginning of this year. The most in-depth of these is probably going to go live while I’m down there and I hope we get to celebrate the launch over cigars.
5. I have a couple of online “New Zealand” related side projects I started earlier this year and I’m hoping to work on those some more while I’m in country too.
Will be challenging myself to see how much I can crank out while I’m there!
Looking forward.
