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Author: Martin Smith

Thinking about Remote Year? My thoughts halfway.

Thinking about Remote Year? My thoughts halfway.

Published by Martin Smith on September 15, 2016

In terms of days, Battuta is now over halfway finished with Remote Year. We’ve visited at least 6 countries, taken flights and buses and ferries, spent $12,000 Dollars on housing and a workspace, made new friends and had to say goodbye to a few remotes along the way. At this point, what do I say to someone who is thinking about Remote Year? I’d recommend it, but it’s more complicated than a simple yes or no.

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Can DevOps and Remote Work learn from each other?

Can DevOps and Remote Work learn from each other?

Published by Martin Smith on September 7, 2016

More people than ever are working from home. Estimates range from 10% (in the least remote-work-friendly countries) to 60% in the United States. Even global data shows that half of all workers may be remote by 2020. DevOps, the cultural movement towards more agile systems administration, has also been gaining traction. Gartner estimates that 25% of global 2000 businesses will employ DevOps as a mainstream strategy by 2016.

So what can DevOps and Remote Work learn from each other?

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3 Thoughts about Belgrade

3 Thoughts about Belgrade

Published by Martin Smith on August 29, 2016

Upon arriving in Belgrade, we were taken by our landlord (Milan — it seems to be a very common name here!), to a 4th floor walkup apartment in the heart of Skadarlija. This area seems to be the equivalent to Montmarte in Paris (aside: I looked this area up, and found that I’m not the only one who thinks so!) but much smaller — it’s a cute area, with tons of restaurants, a few other clubs, and a ton of cobbled streets. As we head South, it’s nice to find more and more aircon, which has been a welcome relief.

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My Remote Year Profile: Martin Smith

My Remote Year Profile: Martin Smith

Published by Martin Smith on March 22, 2016

Check out my Remote Year profile, featured today on remoteyear.com.

WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO COME ON REMOTE YEAR?

I have been living in Gainesville, FL, since 2001, and already loved to take longer trips and work abroad, so this program was perfect for me. I truly enjoy meeting new people, and exploring new places, and I relished the idea of being able to do that for a year without having to plan and worry as much about the logistics of lodging and workspaces. Combined with the opportunity to travel with a group of interesting people of all ages and all walks of life, the opportunity to come on Remote Year was a no-brainer for me.

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Montevideo, Uruguay: Two weeks later

Montevideo, Uruguay: Two weeks later

Published by Martin Smith on February 18, 2016

After writing about our amazing coworking space, Sinergia, during my first week, and publishing some photographs of street art in the city in Uruguay, I haven’t been able to find more time to put my thoughts down, “on paper.” I feel as though time has sped along back in the United States – that I’ve been gone for months and missed so much; at the same time, my having so many new experiences away in South America has led to a feeling of life passing by slow motion. It’s like time passes slower in Uruguay than the U.S. I’m only now reflecting on the last two weeks and writing this update as I sit on a plane between Montevideo and San Francisco, where I’ll be speaking at Elastic{ON}^2 this week.

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