Guest Post: Shannon Brown is interning at KLP for three months as part of the AUT InterNZ program.
New outlooks and new experiences are what I hope to achieve during my time in San Francisco.My life has always run pretty smoothly, primary school to high school and onwards to AUT for a degree in Communications. This all changed when I became one of the nine selected for the inaugural AUT InterNZ scholarship program. As a result of the support from AUT and BNZ I am now using my skills learnt in PR and marketing as an intern at the Kiwi landing Pad in San Francisco.
Before my departure from New Zealand every thing I knew about America was from the media. This meant walking through the city alone for the first time was an experience. I even ran from my unfinished lunch as I was convinced a man staring at me was about to come steal my possessions, or me.
However this same commute soon became a pleasure. Every time I looked up I was stunned by the detail and beauty of the Victorian buildings, some of the homeless were actually really polite, and fresh healthy food is even more common than the generic fast food joints.
One thing that has intrigued me even more than the city’s infrastructure are the people. I was lucky enough to attend a startup pitching competition organised by Elance called Big Idea. Every second person I spoke to was a tech entrepreneur with a passionate story to tell and suggestions for apps to download.
The vibe in this city is contagious. I have already upgraded my iPhone 3g to a 5c and downloaded several apps that have made adapting to my new life much easier. I am so grateful for this experience, I cannot wait to learn more from the team at KLP and become submerged in the startup culture of San Francisco.