Thread by @schm7dt

My first night out in Queenstown

~ A worldly thread ~

So it's about 8 AM here. Just got to the coffee shop where I'll work most of the day. Ordered some brekkie (Auzzie m8).

Last night was weird and crazy and awesome.

To start, I went to a bar/restaurant at about 5 PM to get dinner and a beer.

Started talking with some of the locals. Met some of my first New Zealanders (there are VERY few New Zealanders in Queenstown, it's almost all English, Aussie, European, etc.)

Got in touch with a photographer I might use for some product pics via a bartender.

Then a Canadian girl sat next to me and we got to talking. She asked me if I voted for Trump. I said no, but that if I could go back I probably would've.

We had a bit of lively debate, nothing too serious. Her arguments were "Trump is racist, homophobic, etc."

Then I met a group of guys and gals who were all a mosh pit of different people. Some Aussies, one English, one German, and one Israeli.

Talked to them about rugby and hockey for a bit, then they invited me to sit down with them.

That's when they started getting me real drunk.

I can't even remember how many rounds of shots we ordered. It was a lot. I was borderline blackout by 8. But that's when it got interested, and I actually remember most of this pretty well.

I got into a conversation about capitalism vs. communism with the Israeli fella (former military, total bad ass, looks kind of like @DanBilzerian).

Of course, as an American business owner, you can imagine what my views on the topic are.

But I'm here to learn and become more cultured, so I stayed open minded. And actually, what he said made a lot of sense. When people grow up in a culture where the benefit of society as a whole is the focus, and not one's own benefit, I think it could work.

There's plenty more that goes into it obviously (size of the country, resources, etc.), but basically he called me greedy for wanting more than what I needed.

I agreed.

I told him about my business and how I have an employee (my VA).

He thinks that because she works about the same hours as me, that we should share the profits equally. I tried explaining to him the blood, sweat, and tears, the skills, the sacrifice it took to build my business.

And that she couldn't do that.

And that's why I deserve to make lots of money and splurge and stuff like that.

He didn't really get that 100%.

He thinks that if everyone works for the benefit of the community, the community can provide for everyone, and then you get a small allowance for yourself.

And that if you want more than that, you're just greedy.

Which, again, I agreed. I'll admit that I'm greedy (by world standards, at least).

Anyways, it was a very stimulating conversation that left me with a lot to think about.

Communism could never work in the US. It would take a complete shift in the culture, in education, in how we're raised. Everything would have to change. This would take hundreds of years, and even then it wouldn't be possible.

But, I can see the merits in smaller countries with a less selfish culture.

Anyways...

They were all smokers, and since cigarettes are so expensive here (~$25-$30 USD for 1 pack), they roll their own (call them rollies).

I partook a bit, but then showed them my JUUL.

They were instantly hooked.

The quick buzz, how discrete it is, the JUUL is a fucking revolutionary product imo. But, you can't get it in NZ. I might have my friend ship me a bunch just so I can give them out to these mofos.

(And maybe even sell them for a profit to others).

We did more shots, got real drunk, and continued talking.

Then we went to another bar, more "modern" and American-esque I suppose.

That's when I started talking to one of the guys in this group about my business.

It's crazy to me, but the people here, the LAST thing they care about is money. They just want to work, have enough to live, go out, travel some, and that's it. They're happy with that.

I'm the exact opposite, but it's cool to see the different perspectives.

So we talked and then I realized it was like 1 AM and I hadn't even hit on any girls yet!

So, I did my rounds and found a kiwi girl and started talking to her (first kiwi girl I met actually).

She was cute, we smoked a cigarette together and talked and made out for a second.

I have a business to run, so by 1-2 I was ready to get home.

I tried taking her home with me, but she thought I was crazy for going home that early. People here stay out all hours of the night, til 4, 5, even 6 AM.

But I got her number before I left.

Walked home by myself (Queenstown is very small, everything's walkable, and very safe) and hit the hay at my hostel.

I have my own room there, which is really nice.

And that's about it.

All in all, a really fun and almost enlightening night.

America is such a single-minded country, and seeing the perspectives of others for the first time was absolutely awesome. I think every American NEEDS to get out of the country and do something like this.

There's a whole world out there folks, and as Americans we really are just so ignorant to it (most of us, not all).

Anyways, that was my night.

If you got this far, wow. That's pretty cool you care enough to read this far.

Lol.

FIN.