Start small!! (depending on how large you are 2-4m and low aspect stable kites. for a first kite an HQ scout 2m or 3m good all rounder and not killer on the wallet) and find people whom are already have experience to help. Wind is good but often you don't need tons 10 mph is great for learning. I have a friend whom gets 7-12mph most of the time he loves the light stuff. Where I am we have more than that usually... Nice steady wind is helpful too. We don't get that either...

Seriously if you really wanted to try find a shop and get a lesion. They often will use a 'school kite' so you just pay for time and around here anyway if you buy one in 3 weeks the cost of the class is taken off the kite cost.

Buggy takes about 2 weeks to learn kite control and then a day or two on the buggy and you have the basics down kite surfing is quite a lot harder. Snow is about the same maybe a bit easier.

1 sq meter is 10 sq feet a 2 or 3m kite is 20 to 30 sq feet it is not small really and produces tons of power. Make no mistake in thinking it is a toy. It is NOT. I am 240 pounds and 6'4" I have been pulled by a 1m kite digging my heels in as hard as I can, these are fun and safe if used correctly but are not toys. People get hurt really badly when they think they are toys. People whom don't respect power kites and treat them as toys get hurt. NOT a TOY.