It is difficult to define what WordCamp Europe has become for me over the years. Since my first edition in Berlin in 2019, a lot of personal and professional evolution.
My second year as an organizer, even though time is a complex resource to manage. If you ask me a week before the event if I would continue in future editions, I would tell you:
— No, I need to focus on work and other personal aspects.
A week after the event, I would say:
—- I will not miss the next edition under any circumstances.
It is the celebration par excellence of the WordPress community.
A few intense days (almost a week) where I let myself be carried away by the energy, by the social interactions, by the good conversations with hundreds of wonderful people, who are part of this great international ecosystem.
We share a love for the “open source” principles that unite us, we have common interests, similar works, lines that make us belong to the group.
But the most important thing at the end of it all, is the plain and simple connection that all of us who attend make to share that time together of good conversations, food, and quality moments that allow us to take our minds off the laptop and connect on human terms.
For our Galician group, Juan Hernando, Carlos Longarela, Jorge González, attending this party is almost the annual commitment par excellence.
We usually organize the trip together, the accommodation, the expenses and we are very excited to do it this way since that 2019. This year we were all involved, either in the organization or as volunteers.
This year we were also joined by a great friend of the community and one of the most well-known and beloved characters: Moncho. So we had on that floor a good group of friends who shared battles and laughs.
I know it will sound a bit “herbal” of me, but I’m not a big believer in coincidences.
I grew up in a neighborhood of Galicians and Italians, European immigrants who came to Venezuela in complex times. Great friends from my childhood (“Mickey”) had their offspring in Italy, and I carried that country as a dream destination for a long time.
When Torino was chosen as this year’s city of the year, I couldn’t help but get excited.
It was in my personal goals to visit Italy this year.
So once again, the WordPress community put me where I needed to be; but this time with a mitigating factor, one of the lead organizers was my good friend Juan Hernando.
That I was chosen for such a responsible role overwhelmed me and made me very excited.
I already knew this prior to the public announcement. So we would be there supporting him as always, who knows him, knows that Juan was born for this role.
She has an impressive mettle and together with Wendie Huis in t veld (Netherlands) and Takis Bouyouris (Greece) made a great team that I was honored to be a part of.
One thing the lead organizers did this year that I really liked was to encourage organizers from different teams to get to know each other.
With games, random chat rooms, etc., they made us somehow interact more with each other.
The WCEU organizing teams are very independent of each other. This is positive for the organization of such a large group of people, with the lead organizers of each group bearing most of the responsibility.
This year I repeated in the community team, led by Liza Bogatyrev.
In this Italian edition, I assumed the same roles as last year, focusing my attention on (1) the community booth, that community space inside the sponsors area; and (2) the contributor day, which as I always say, is my favorite day of any WC.
I thought it made sense to reuse the knowledge from last year in Athens and try to improve some things.
I really enjoyed the team, the meetings with Ohia, who unfortunately, for the second year had to miss the event and whom we miss very much. ❤️
This year I also enjoyed getting to know Elli Mouchtari (Athens) and Lidia Pellizzaro (Italy) better at the CB and we had very interesting and enriching conversations. Of course, sharing also with Matteo Enna (Italy) and Earl Cruz.
I keep that learning.
If there is one nice thing about being part of the organization, it is being able to go deeper into people. Create bonds and friendships that go beyond two people meeting at an event.
And that lasts over time. This year, for example, seeing and embracing people who were part of last year’s team is very comforting.
Sponsors
This year I am writing this section on sponsors because I was delighted with how many of the companies were linked to the entire ecosystem.
As is normal, if it were not for the economic effort of the sponsors, this would not be possible. But when they go a step further and link up on a personal level, it’s fascinating and to be appreciated.
This year, for example, Hostinger was kind enough to invite a large group of contributors and table leaders from contributor day to dinner.
An impressive detail (as you can see in the photos) that I want to thank, not only the company for that wonderful dinner, but three people: Emma Young, Gustė Cibulskytė and Marco Chiesi.
I met Emma and her partner, Ray(Raymundo Aguirre) at WordCamp Porto and had a very positive connection with both of them, which allowed us to laugh and almost see a meteorite, so you can imagine ;-). At dinner to talk to Gusté and Marco, to understand their backgrounds, their personal stories.
Companies are nothing without the people who are part of them. Thank you for this invitation and for being able to say that you are already part of my friendships in this great ecosystem.
Another company that surprised me was Zealous Web, a company from India, which participates for the first time in the WCEU and had the incredible detail of bringing all the organizers and volunteers a personalized gift in appreciation for the time dedicated to carry out this event.
Thank you! I thought it was an endearing detail and I was very excited to stop by their booth and meet them personally.
Of course, another company that I am always excited to see: Yith, who with their team of wonderful people, are an incredible family that I am very fond of.
They bring dynamism, youth and freshness. I loved this Reel.
To all the companies sponsoring this event that I am not mentioning: Thank you! ❤️
And never forget that what is important, beyond the money and time you contribute to the event, are those wonderful people who work with you and make this great ecosystem continue to grow in a healthy and powerful way.
Food, talks and a lot of community
Since I was in the organization, I was able to attend only a few lectures.
A lot of Spanish representation, of course, which fills us with enthusiasm. I really liked Fernando Tellado ‘s article where he precisely details all the people of the Spanish community linked to the WCEU.
Last year, Athens set the bar for food very high. Italy did not disappoint, its wonderful cheeses, pastas, pizzas, salads, Aperoles.
I arrived with a few extra kilos, so I took advantage of the trip to stay an extra week on vacation with my family 😉 It was worth it! My son adores me for eating a whole week of his favorite food.
I love the energy of our community.
This great group of Spaniards from different communities that we meet every year in this wonderful event.
I could not mention all of them, but I will try to ensure that they are represented in the graphic material of this article.
I would like to mention Nacho and Africa, my two good friends from Pontevedra, from this wonderful initiative of Rural Hackers , who were encouraged to know this event and came out recharged with energy, enthusiasm and ideas for their excellent projects.
Thank you! I have a lot of fun and am filled with excitement to share those days with all these wonderful people.
And special mention to the Lingoto Fiere, that majestic building that leaves no one indifferent, with all the history behind the car factory, the views of the Alps, the test track on the roof of the building. Incredible.
What about the future?
As always, the announcement of the next WordCamp. My good friends had tried to hide the destination from me before the closing, I was excited to find out at that moment, but in the end it is complex, since everyone is talking about it 😉
We’ll see you in Basel, Switzerland in 2025, as always giving our best to keep on making this great WordPress community party.
I leave you with the wonderful video of the next destination.
It has undoubtedly become my reference event and as long as I have the strength, I will continue to fight to participate with enthusiasm and affection. ❤️
As the great Dani Primo says:
“Because technology is necessary, but the important thing, we are the people.”
Dani Primo
Long live and prosper WordPress!
NOTE: Thanks to Nilo Velez for the featured group photo that accompanies this blog.
