{"id":11166,"date":"2024-10-02T18:41:31","date_gmt":"2024-10-02T16:41:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/blog\/magic-and-resilience-at-wordcamp-pontevedra\/"},"modified":"2024-10-02T18:50:09","modified_gmt":"2024-10-02T16:50:09","slug":"wordcamp-pontevedra-2024","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wajari.com\/en\/blog\/wordcamp-pontevedra-2024\/","title":{"rendered":"Magic and resilience at WordCamp Pontevedra?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

What the fuck does magic and resilience have to do with a WordPress event? <\/p>\n\n

Is this just a literary device to cause intrigue, or does it make some sense? <\/p>\n\n

I will explain, don’t worry.<\/p>\n\n

In this blog<\/strong> I have little constancy in terms of writing, but at least, I can be proud to have 28 entries<\/a> (including this one) that have to do with WordPress, of about 99 articles.\nThe oldest one by the way from October 2014<\/strong>, that means it has persisted these ten years. <\/p>\n\n

I’ve been tired of repeating, both on the blog, as in the few social networks that I “badly have” (sorry for the bad joke), in interviews, videos, the great change that it meant in my personal and professional life to have entered the WP world.<\/p>\n\n

Anyone who is part of it will be able to observe something similar; everyone has their own path, no doubt, but a change<\/strong> is generated.<\/p>\n\n

A friendship, a connection, a partner, a business partner, or whatever.\nWe are social entities, to deny it is to go against our nature. <\/p>\n\n

Working as a team gives us a purpose beyond our projects.\nThat means a lot, for many people, because it matches our values and ethics. <\/p>\n\n

This edition of WordCamp Pontevedra<\/a> is 5 years old<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

I have been there since the beginning and I have seen an incredible evolution.\nNot only in the organization, but in everything that has been generated naturally, without following any strategy or vision. <\/p>\n\n

We do things because we want to, because we feel like it, because we have the strength, because we want to improve our reality and environment. <\/p>\n\n

It is not always easy, sometimes combining personal, family and professional life is a complex challenge.\nYou get tired, you get irritated, it causes you to throw in the towel and say: <\/p>\n\n

— Let the next ones come, I need to rest.<\/p>\n\n

But as I said in my last article about WordCamp Europe in Torino<\/a>, I couldn’t imagine attending an edition without lending a hand. <\/p>\n\n

The same thing has always happened to me with Pontevedra. <\/p>\n\n

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Sabela the president.\nPhoto by Paco Marchante<\/a>.\nOfficial album on Flickr<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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I know I released the “presidency”<\/a> to Sabela<\/a> last year (2023).\nShe expected it, even if she denies it \ud83d\ude09 By the way, we call it “presidency” just for fun, better to clarify this. <\/p>\n\n

In any case, we were never going to leave her alone.\nJust as Juan Hernando<\/a> did with me, who accompanied me for both editions. <\/p>\n\n

Juan, from the silence, has always been there omnipresent, helping in everything and knowing how to act in every moment. <\/p>\n\n

He has always been a good inspiration<\/strong>, not only for his friendship, but for his knowledge and vision of what the WordPress community is.\nIt has been and will always be a privilege to share these moments with him. <\/p>\n\n

This year has not been easy.\nI think times have accelerated in a weird way.\nTechnology and technology companies have somewhat hijacked our attention<\/a>, and this makes it psychologically harder for us to focus, to maintain focus<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n

My business model has grown in a way that makes it difficult for me to control time and organization, let alone delegate tasks. <\/p>\n\n

I do what I can with honesty and clarity.\nBut it is still frustrating. <\/p>\n\n

Therefore, those moments you have to dedicate to organizing community events or any time you set aside for it, becomes a stressor<\/strong>, not something that gives you pleasure.<\/p>\n\n

In the beginning, it was all about pleasure, having a good time. That was the idea.\nBut with the responsibilities and the growth of your business model, you find it hard to organize yourself and you get frustrated, you feel bad about yourself, you compare yourself, and that’s never good. <\/p>\n\n

The pressure of doing things right, and seeing that they can be improved, but not being able to make the time to do it is a frustrating feeling. <\/p>\n\n

I am learning to manage it, to apply the wu-wei<\/a><\/em>to flow and accept things as they are.<\/p>\n\n

In the end (I always have an intuition) everything will be fine. <\/p>\n\n

Little by little it has become one of the most veteran WordCamps in Spain and as I always say, there is no greater mystery than having a very good team<\/strong>, that each one does his own thing well, and above all with love.\nI don’t consider that we are a team as usual, we are friends who get together. <\/p>\n\n

We were never very “team-oriented”, although each one has a role acquired over time, the reality is that afterwards, we all do everything from contacting suppliers to mopping the floor.<\/p>\n\n

Communication<\/strong> is the most complicated thing from my point of view in our WC because of the summer.\nHalf of Spain comes to a standstill in July, the other half in August.\nWe ourselves take vacations at that time, either because of the weather or because of our children. <\/p>\n\n

Communicating something at that time is very difficult.\nAnd between us too, that frustrated me many times.\nNot to mention: suppliers, university, etc. <\/p>\n\n

But all that “birth” of stress, stress, worries, worries, lack of communication, as if by magic<\/strong>, disappears the week of the event. <\/p>\n\n

What had to come out, came out.\nIf something goes wrong, we have nothing else to do.\nJust keep going.\nA high percentage of actions, usually come almost by traction, in free fall. <\/p>\n\n

In my first year I wanted to incorporate Sabela into the team because of her creativity and energy.\nIn two years she revolutionized many things.\nWe were all sure she would do great.\nShe brought fresh ideas such as new formats for talks <\/strong>that worked perfectly. <\/p>\n\n

The magazine<\/strong> that was handed out, the game<\/strong>, an incredible set of details.<\/p>\n\n

That attention to detail plus creativity has been key to the success of his leadership, leaving a very positive feeling among all the people who attended. <\/p>\n\n

To all the people of this Galician WordPress family<\/a>, thank you. \u2764\ufe0f<\/p>\n\n

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Photo of the organizing family of WordCamp Pontevedra 2024<\/strong>.\nPhoto by Paco Marchante<\/a>. <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Each and every one of you has become a very special annual appointment: Carlos Sobrino<\/a>, Carlos Longarela<\/a> (comrade of suites, wherever there were ;-), Jes\u00fas Amieiro<\/a>, Jorge Gonz\u00e1lez<\/a>, Leo Men\u00e9ndez<\/a>, Mar\u00eda S\u00e1ez<\/a>, M\u00f3nica Saavedra<\/a> (and Andr\u00e9s <\/strong>who is already part of the group), Santi<\/a>, Sonia D\u00edaz<\/a> and Yolanda Pazos<\/a>.\nWe missed Paula Rivera<\/a> and L\u00faa Louro<\/a> this year, but they were still very present. <\/p>\n\n

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Santiago Rodr\u00edguez at the Workshop and do_action.\nPhoto by Paco Marchante<\/a>.\nOfficial album on Flickr<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Special mention to Santi<\/strong> who this year made his debut wearing the do_action<\/a> and he did it: SPECTACULAR.\nI loved that day, with which we could count on the great Fernando Tellado<\/a> who always comes with love to give us that workshop, without asking anything in return. <\/p>\n\n

The associations <\/strong>that benefited from the website, very involved and as every year, created a magical atmosphere of true community and support.<\/p>\n\n

I would also like to highlight the work of Sonia and Monica<\/strong>, both incredible with their energy that from Ferrol, have filled with good vibes this WordCamp that is already theirs. <\/p>\n\n

Sonia’s design work has been amazing year after year, hats off to everything she does behind the scenes.<\/p>\n\n

Last year we paid a painful tribute to the man who had accompanied us for so many years(Jose Luis<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n

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M\u00f3nika and Julio.\nPhoto: From the Podcast Pareja que Suma (Couple that adds up).<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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This year, unfortunately, we have to talk about another person who is gone: M\u00f3nika Piszczelok<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

Although I did not have the opportunity to get to know M\u00f3nika in depth, what she and Julio had to learn was super complex. <\/p>\n\n

With what love they took care of each other, they learned to live with a hard reality, and today, M\u00f3nika has left us.\nEven so, Julio was, as he is every year, giving his best. <\/p>\n\n

What a great tribute and teaching this man has left me with such a beautiful relationship.\nThank you for this lesson in resilience<\/strong>, my friend.\nYou are great and she will always be in you. <\/p>\n\n

There are many people who get involved and make this make sense, even if they are not in the list of organizers, they deserve a place there. <\/p>\n\n

Xose Lousao<\/a>, for example, a great friend of our community<\/strong> who year after year makes an effort so that our WP party is celebrated in style.\nThanks comrade! <\/p>\n\n

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Jose Luis Losada (son) with Jorge (one person).\nPhoto by Santiago Rodr\u00edguez<\/a>.\nOfficial album on Flickr<\/a> <\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n
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Jose Luis Losada<\/a> (son), another great example.\nBefore his father asked him to do it, now without his father, this young man deserves an honorable mention every year, he keeps accompanying us and carrying boxes as one more organizer. <\/p>\n\n

You’re the shit, man.\nWe told him he had the right to ignore his father’s wish<\/strong> to help us every year.\nWell, with love and nobility, he is still with us. <\/p>\n\n

Paulino P\u00e9rez<\/a>, Emma Torres<\/a> and Xabi Rol\u00e1n<\/a>, three vocational professors.\nThose “essential people” in the words of the poet Silvio Rodr\u00edguez<\/strong>; those who continue to work year after year, fighting to improve the University and its surroundings. <\/p>\n\n

Without the support of them and the entire Faculty of Communication<\/a>, the University of Vigo, both the concierge staff (Paco, Jose Antonio) and the cafeteria staff (Rosa), none of this would make sense.<\/p>\n\n

To all the people I cannot mention, but who come every year full of enthusiasm to participate either as volunteers<\/a>, photographers, speakers, assistants<\/a>, or curious.<\/p>\n\n

From Seville, Cadiz, Granada, Madrid, Portugal<\/strong>, and anywhere in Galicia<\/strong>, it is the people who attend, who give you a reason to keep doing it.\nIt is only thanks to you that the effort makes sense. <\/p>\n\n

To all the friends and sponsors<\/a> who make a financial effort to make this possible at such a reduced cost.<\/p>\n\n

I don’t see LucusHost<\/a>, Siteground<\/a>, Raiola<\/a>, WordPress<\/a>, Dinahosting<\/a>, Hacce<\/a>, Sirvelia<\/a>, Modular DS<\/a>, etc. anymore. <\/p>\n\n

I see people, friendships<\/strong> such as: Moncho, Jonathan, Paula, Amadeu, Juanma, H\u00e9ctor, Lorenzo, etc.<\/p>\n\n

I don’t see brands, I see people<\/strong>with their values who continue to support this event year after year, for all that it leaves in the community \ud83d\ude4f<\/p>\n\n

A Galician WordPress community<\/strong> that does not stop growing, incorporating new people, dynamics and talks. <\/p>\n\n

That in all the cities where events are held (Lugo, A Coru\u00f1a, Ferrol, Ourense, Vigo, Santiago and Pontevedra) a gang is created, a group of friends<\/strong>, a support group among freelancers, or simply geeks of this little world.<\/p>\n\n

I am sure it will evolve in the future (I don’t know when) from a WordCamp Pontevedra<\/strong> to a WordCamp Galicia<\/strong>, because WC does not belong to a few, it belongs to everyone.\nAnd only with the union and with love, we can continue to grow in a sustainable way. <\/p>\n\n

For the time being, get involved, participate, give a hand without expecting anything in return. <\/p>\n\n

Profit is generated in helping other people.\nThe more you give, the more it generates.\nThere is no more mystery than this.\nIn the words of Leonard Nimoy<\/strong>, a character I quote on multiple occasions: <\/p>\n\n

\n

“The miracle is this — the more we share, the more we have.” <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Live long and prosper!<\/p>\n\n

Featured image of the article thanks to the great team of photographers<\/strong>. Official Flickr album<\/a>.\nPhoto by Eneko Garrido<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

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Magic and resilience at WordCamp Pontevedra 2024.
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