I’ve come to a conclusion — the world needs more “iHub’s“; a vast network of them all across the globe to be exact. I briefly mentioned this idea when my friend and I came across the iHub in Nairobi back in October. In Kenya, the iHub (where my friend Erik Hersman works) is likely among the fastest internet connections in the entire country of Kenya and seems to be a hotbed of entrepreneurial activity.

Granted I’m a travel addict and a bit of a nomad right now – but I would certainly pay a monthly membership fee for access to a network of iHub-type network of facilities I could utilize wherever I may be in the world. Maybe several hundred dollars a month? Especially if there was a strong sense of community among the members, and that network enabled me to build relationships with more like minded individuals who love traveling and technology, that would add to the value for me.

The location that really needs one (in my biased view of course)? Santorini. Tourist destinations such as Santorini could attract a whole new industry of tech savvy nomads to their shores for summers. Such a facility would bring more revenue to the island as a result of more expats living there all summer and spending their money at local establishments, even if many of those utilizing it were not paying EU taxes (maybe part of the monthly fee would go to government taxes). I would think this type of initiative would be something that would be in the best interest of the local government to help fund. Oh yea, Greece is just about bankrupt…scratch that idea. Any rich Greeks want to fund such a facility privately?

I think it goes without saying a network of entrepreneurial hubs would bring together new ideas and innovation from a wide range of cultures around the world, and I’m guessing a few unbelievable web projects would sprout up as a result. Certainly nothing bad could come from a community of geeky digital nomads, right?

Drew Meyers

Drew Meyers is the co-founder of Horizon & Oh Hey World. He worked for Zillow from September of 2005 to January of 2010 on the marketing team managing Zillow’s API program and various online partnerships. Founder of Geek Estate Blog, a multi-author blog focused on real estate technology for real estate professionals, and myKRO.org, a blog devoted to exploring the world of microfinance. As passionate as you get about travel.

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I recently came across a post I’d recommend everyone read – the 5 top regrets people have on their deathbed. All five points are spot on, but I wanted to touch briefly on the #4 regrets on the deathbed:

4. I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends.

This is an important one. Like REALLY important. I hope no one will debate the notion that friendships are an important aspect of life. In fact, in my mind, life is all about friendships/relationships; without them, you’re stuck with just a bunch of “stuff” that really doesn’t matter.

Even though Facebook and Twitter make it easy for me to keep tabs on hundreds of people at once and skype enables me to call anyone in the world anytime at a reasonable rate, strong relationships still require in person interaction. Traveling makes that both harder for me in the fact that it takes me away from my core group of close friends in Seattle yet also easier due to the fact that it enables me to have in person time with a larger & more diverse network of people.

The challenge is keeping in touch with everyone that’s WORTH keeping in touch with (there are some people I’ve met that I would be happy never speaking to again).  I’m blessed to have some truly amazing friends in my life. But there are only so many hours in a day and days in a year to spend time with everyone. It’s no surprise the lack of staying in touch with friends comes up high in a list of regrets on the deathbed because keeping in touch is hard work (and everyone always wants the easy road) — but, that said, I’m determined not to let this end up on my list.

Drew Meyers

Drew Meyers is the co-founder of Horizon & Oh Hey World. He worked for Zillow from September of 2005 to January of 2010 on the marketing team managing Zillow’s API program and various online partnerships. Founder of Geek Estate Blog, a multi-author blog focused on real estate technology for real estate professionals, and myKRO.org, a blog devoted to exploring the world of microfinance. As passionate as you get about travel.

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I’ve now been home for about a month, and I have to say I’m still feeling the effects of culture shock. And coming home right before the holiday season doesn’t exactly help since American consumerism is at a seasonal high; advertisements for the latest and greatest gift idea constantly being thrust at me from every direction. Even though it’s now Christmas day and I had a relaxing day yesterday playing cards with my family and drinking eggnog, I’m still not in the Christmas mood since every Christmas reference I see & hear reminds me of buying something — which is not what the holidays should be about. Going shopping for gifts that people don’t need is something I have absolutely no desire in given I was just in Ghana and Kenya where, by and large, people are happier than they are in the US while owning vitually zero material possessions. In Ghana, people don’t even know who Santa Claus is (and yes, most of them are Christian); makes you wonder whether Santa Claus is just another icon marketers have exploited in the name of getting you to spend more money during the holiday season.

Think about it. You don’t need a new TV. You don’t need another car. You don’t need a new frying pan. You don’t even need another fancy dress shirt. You don’t need your 176th DVD. Chances are pretty damn good, you have everything you need (plus some) and just don’t realize it. The video embedded below and this post I wrote several years ago should help you realize how truly fortunate you are.

Ordinary Hero~ A day in the trash dump in Ethiopia from Kelly Putty on Vimeo.

I’m sure this is not the rosy, happy post you wanted to read on Christmas day and I’m rambling a bit — and for that, I apologize. Merry Christmas and be happy for all that you have!

Here are some additional thoughts on culture shock from Caz.

Drew Meyers

Drew Meyers is the co-founder of Horizon & Oh Hey World. He worked for Zillow from September of 2005 to January of 2010 on the marketing team managing Zillow’s API program and various online partnerships. Founder of Geek Estate Blog, a multi-author blog focused on real estate technology for real estate professionals, and myKRO.org, a blog devoted to exploring the world of microfinance. As passionate as you get about travel.

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If you are a frequent worldwide traveler, I’m sure you’ve heard at least one person ask you what you’re running from. Most travelers are running from something. But I’m with Caz on this — why is that a bad thing?

Are 80 % of travellers on the run? I say 100% are. They are on the run towards life, not away from anything. Sure, they may have skeletons in their closets, as does everyone, but they are leaving them behind not running from them.

I’d highly encourage you to read Caz’ full post on yTravelBlog. It’s right on the mark in more ways than one.

Drew Meyers

Drew Meyers is the co-founder of Horizon & Oh Hey World. He worked for Zillow from September of 2005 to January of 2010 on the marketing team managing Zillow’s API program and various online partnerships. Founder of Geek Estate Blog, a multi-author blog focused on real estate technology for real estate professionals, and myKRO.org, a blog devoted to exploring the world of microfinance. As passionate as you get about travel.

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My “Drew Meyers World Tour 2010”, which began back in April with my trip to Asia, has been officially over for about two weeks now, but I’m just now getting to wrapping it up here on Oh Hey World. I’ve been back in Seattle for almost two weeks catching up with old friends I haven’t seen in 8 months and working for Virtual Results and have barely even had a chance to think about the fact that I’m no longer traveling the world and living out of my backpack.

The most common question I’ve been asked the past two weeks has been “How is it to be back?”

After being gone for 8 months, where do I even begin to answer that question? Particularly since I spent the last month in rural Ghana (2 hours from an ATM rural), going from spending $10 a week on food to more than $10 a day is quite an adjustment. Granted, $10 a week in Ghana meant mostly beans, rice, plantains, and spaghetti — the amount of money it takes to feed yourself here in the US regardless of what you’re eating is quite a bit more. Driving my Civic again takes a little getting used to. Having a real bed and big spacious couches to sit on are both unbelievable feelings after constantly being on the go. It goes without saying that I’m still in an adjustment period acclimating myself back to the United States lifestyle, and I’ll try to reflect further on my time abroad and share my thoughts when I have a little bit more free time to think about it.

The photos in this post were taken on a beach near Cape Coast on one of my last days in Ghana.

Drew Meyers

Drew Meyers is the co-founder of Horizon & Oh Hey World. He worked for Zillow from September of 2005 to January of 2010 on the marketing team managing Zillow’s API program and various online partnerships. Founder of Geek Estate Blog, a multi-author blog focused on real estate technology for real estate professionals, and myKRO.org, a blog devoted to exploring the world of microfinance. As passionate as you get about travel.

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Based on the comments in Christine’s post, it seems there are a bunch of us in the same situation right now — returning stateside in the next two weeks & not knowing what we’re doing next.

Flying back to the United States Sunday the 21st after spending the last 8 months abroad, I’m in the same boat of heading back to the states without a crystal clear vision for what lies ahead for me.

I’m certainly extremely extremely excited to see all my friends back in Seattle and catch up on what’s happened over the course of the last 8 months (aside from what I’ve learned on FB of course). Seeing my family over the thanksgiving weekend (and my sister who is now 6 months pregnant) is going to be awesome. I can’t wait for a big, comfy couch and a day of movies. I’m excited to drive my Civic again (but not so excited to clean all my crap out of it). My first steak in months grilled over open flames will be amazing, as will the unbelievable bratwursts my stepdad makes.

But I can’t say I’m looking forward to everything about returning to the states. For starters, I’m not looking forward to returning to the materialistic lifestyle of the US. After being in Africa for the last two months & witnessing people living perfectly happy lives with virtually no material possessions, it’s going to be quite a jolt. Coming from Kenya and Ghana, where strangers have been beyond sincere, accommodating, friendly, and helpful — the lack of friendliness of strangers is going to be a bit disheartening as well.

On the topic of what’s next career/life wise — I’m not 100% sure, but have one opportunity that I’m close to narrowing in on. That said, I’ve learned that until all the “t’s” are crossed and “i’s” are dotted, nothing is final. Making a final decision on what to do next in life is always hard, especially when you consider the fact that the world is at my fingertips. I could go back into the tech industry and do marketing for a killer startup, become a permanent expat, devote myself full time to Oh Hey World and try to make money off of it to keep traveling, join the freelance consulting arena full time, join a smaller company in the states full time and gain further small business experience, or I could work somewhere in the developing world for a microfinance NGO. And sitting in Ghana right now in a community where virtually no one has traveled anywhere other than Accra within Ghana, and certainly haven’t ventured out of the country, I realize it’s truly a privilege to have these opportunities.

To continuing traveling or not to travel, that is the question. Regardless of what I decide, I guarantee my passion for traveling will not go away; it’s just a matter of doing it now or postponing it a bit in favor of a little financial security. What do do, what to do…I’ll keep you posted.

Drew Meyers

Drew Meyers is the co-founder of Horizon & Oh Hey World. He worked for Zillow from September of 2005 to January of 2010 on the marketing team managing Zillow’s API program and various online partnerships. Founder of Geek Estate Blog, a multi-author blog focused on real estate technology for real estate professionals, and myKRO.org, a blog devoted to exploring the world of microfinance. As passionate as you get about travel.

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