What we Italians wanted to call, because it’s cool, “smart working” actually translates into “remote working“. And this is how, after the week in the beautiful city of Sydney, we arrive at the destination, at what will be the new place of work, temporary of course, but which will undoubtedly bring about significant changes. No longer a hotel room but a home, a real home, and the beginning of the “long battle” between the curiosity to taste new foods and that of an inevitable tomato pasta with lots of basil made in New Zealand πŸ˜‚πŸ˜© . The house that will host us for the next month, chosen very carefully on Airbnb, is located in a residential area of Auckland, the most populous city in New Zealand, where about a third of the entire New Zealand population lives and which amounts to 5 million inhabitants.

Thanks to Uber, which works great here, with about ten New Zealand dollars (about 6 euros), tip included, you can get near Queen Street, the main street of Auckland, close to the piers from where the boats leave for the many nearby islands that rise in the bay.

The impact with the kiwi people (which does not stand for “skilled producers of the kiwi fruit” but to recall the presence in these lands of a strange bird, called kiwi, in fact) is different from what I expected. I was thinking of a sort of appendix to Australia but, instead, the impact with the center of the city of Auckland immediately makes me think of a “frontier” place. A place where those who are looking for a new homeland arrive, a place where they can have the opportunity of their life.

Immigration in these parts is a serious matter, very well regulated, just as easy, it seems, to obtain a work visa, which varies according to what you are able to do, your level of education, etc.

Inside the Aukland Public Library (the public library located in the city centre), where I decided for the first few days to “establish my new office”, I find a very busy desk where you can ask for information on how to find work and everything what is necessary for those who have decided to put down roots in these parts. Intrigued, even if I’m not looking for a new job πŸ˜…πŸ˜…πŸ˜…, I take a couple of brochures and I can’t help but notice the difference compared to our local immigration policies, in fact non-existent and at the mercy of clandestine flows unworthy for a civilized country like the Italy, which causes pain and death. Here everything is defined, studied, there are suggestions for how to face the new life, which are different for those who come from Germany, for example, compared to those from Bangladesh.

The library offers many services, from the possibility of using digital technological equipment for free (PCs, online press reviews, 3D printers, etc.) to holding courses for those who want to try their hand at coding (programming).

The 3/4 hours I spend here during the day are very pleasant; every now and then I take the opportunity to have a conversation with some students, but work commitments don’t leave me much time available.

The rhythms of the day have inevitably changed. You no longer start in the morning but in the late afternoon, around 6pm. The time difference, exactly 12 hours, requires a different organization. The evening is, therefore, almost entirely dedicated to video call meetings and phone calls with colleagues, customers or suppliers and inevitably ends at 1 or 2 in the morning (1-2 pm Italian time).

The rest of the day is dedicated to me, to us, to discover the city or to prepare the weekends that will lead us to visit this great nation.

The first β€œtrip” is to nearby Waiheke Island, just a half-hour ferry ride from Auckland.

Known for its fine wine and the vineyards overlooking the sea, rather than lying down to touch long sandy beaches, at the end of the day the memory remains of an excellent white wine, sweet, pleasant and the best sweet and savory crΓͺpes, ever eaten in my life, artfully cooked by an English boy who, after wandering around Europe, including Italy, decided (permanently?) to move to this corner of the world.

The first kiwis working week is very busy. The selection of the 5 best Startups in the digital tourism sector, which Broxlab is carrying out together with the Ministry of Tourism, has come to life https://www.broxlab.com/travel-tech-accelerator/. It is necessary to prepare the roadshow and promote the tender throughout Italy. However, the efforts immediately paid off: almost 100 applications in the first 10 days, with a prevalence of applications from Italy (90%), many candidate ideas, even from companies that have not yet been established. After March 31, the closing day of the call, a huge amount of work awaits us to evaluate the many projects and applications that are arriving. Meanwhile, the “daily” commitments continue, including investment reports and planning of new initiatives: Confidently, ART HOUSE Artistic Residence, are just some of the many projects in progress. Full, tiring, but full of stimuli. We won’t forget this first week of work, at home antipodes πŸ˜‰.