I had this feeling that I must have known the answer to this, must have looked it up at some point, but when D asks, I’m kind of at a loss. Anti…opposite…but…what? We’ll look it up when we’re not busy walking/about to watch a movie/trying to fall asleep/fighting off zombies/whatever.

This happens probably around three times in the last few days before I actually remember at a time when I can conveniently fire up my laptop and look. And when I do, it’s clear that I never had actually looked it up before. ‘Podes” – as in “feet.” From Greek, via French or late Latin: “anti podes” – “having feet opposite.” Go figure.

For those wondering why on earth Devon and I are going all obsessively etymological on this particular word, well, yeah. Not hard to guess. We’re southbound again. On the SEA->LAX leg at the moment, but if all goes well, about 24 hours from now we’re going to be collapsing into a little beachside bungalow’ish room in Akaroa, New Zealand.

If all goes well.

The whole idea started April or so of last year when I got to go off on that boondoggle work trip to Hobart, Tasmania. A week of solid brainstorming and strategizing about that software project of mine with some amazing Aussie and Kiwi data scientists. And then, once the meeting was over, a little bit of decompression time driving a rented campervan all the way around the island. Left me with stars in my eyes, and Devon couldn’t get me to Shut Up About It.

Fast forward a few seasons, and I’ve been chatting up those same antipodal data scientists – maybe, um, we should get together again? Lewis, at NIWA in Wellington, NZ says he’d be delighted to host. And Devon’s got an acquaintance who runs an experimental farm just across the channel on the South Island. And as long as we’re so close, it would be a shame for me to not show her around my favorite spots in Tasmania. And there’s family in Adelaide. And, and and…

So we’re flying into Christchurch, renting a campervan and spending about two weeks meandering our way north to Auckland, seeing some sights and having our meetings along the way. Catching a flight to Hobart, renting another campervan and doing much the same.

Inshallah, if all goes well. 

I’ll keep you posted!