GUADEC 2014
Some quick thoughts about GUADEC 2014 in no particular order (apologies for any weird English: written while a bit tired):
- Late opening of registration page made me feel uneasy with arranging things. Sort of felt like things might be cancelled. Probably should’ve spoken up about it beforehand.
- Strassbourg looks really amazing.
- I don’t get why EU moves between two cities. Waste of money.
- I feel for the stress that the organizers must’ve had with GUADEC 2014. Don’t take anything I say about GUADEC 2014 personal.
- GUADEC 2015 will be in Gothenburg, Sweden. I’m wondering how much alcohol people can legally take and if the selling of alcohol is a good method to ensure it isn’t too expensive for people.
- I love taking a train, don’t like flights. On the way to Strassbourg I was investigated by a female customs officer. I think she didn’t appreciate me giving her a “wtf” look due to the full body armour + gun she was wearing. IMO that’s too much. Next connection a drunk dude was bothering everyone. It was funny to see what tactics people took. Usually putting their stuff on the empty seats. Initially I thought everyone was being a bit rude (putting your bags on seats on a pretty crowded train is IMO impolite). Initially it was funny when the drunk beggar started to talk to me. Unfortunately quickly discovered he had a really foul smell. He left quickly though, think just wants attention. On the way back the train was delayed quite heavily. First train was annoying, only had to take it for maybe ~30min, was at least delayed by ~20-30min. Reducing my connection time from 38min to IIRC ~8min and making me a bit anxious if I’d miss my connection. Then high speed train eventually was stuck as well, making the German passenger next to me pretty angry. He started talking in English, but really couldn’t be bothered by the delays. Nor by people sitting next to me (upon boarding I took the seat where someone placed a bag, I understand leaving your bags on a seat when train is empty, but afterwards you should be considerate IMO). Trains are entertaining. Regarding flights: read Schneier on Security, I don’t like the senseless rules that are only there to make someone feel good.
- Though Strassbourg was great, not too many going out places. I wanted to dance, but wasn’t too much around.
- Surprising amount of non-Europeans/non-USA people attending GUADEC.
- Realized that I’m an old fart @ release team.
- Someone was surprised everyone @ GNOME is so young. My first GUADEC is Stuttgart, 2005.
- 200gr of cheap Supermarket chocolate for max 0.70 EUR. I bought loads of them :-D, though was limited by available space in backpack. Going to have a painful stomach for a couple of days.
- Usual stuff about being really bad at linking names with faces, not recognizing people I met before. Not being able to connect people I emailed with with the names, etc. Forgetting the names of really cool people. All of this is very frustrating 🙁
- As expected, didn’t attend too many talks.
- BoFs felt really useful. Didn’t always do whatever that the BoF was about
- I prefer my company laptop over all the laptops that I saw 😛
- Apologies that I used the opensuse usb stick to boot Mageia, but hey, it didn’t have an opensuse live image, so…
- Not too many attendees IMO, wondering why. Late registration? Lack of Nokia? Less travel sponsorship? Thought maybe that we lack community members, but actually there is a impressive amount of “young blood” :-P.
- Discovered I overlooked the Foundationship renewal email. It was unread in my inbox 🙁
- Didn’t like certain things @ AGM.
- Couldn’t attend engagement BoF. Never time for the Engagement meetings/hackfests/etc. Still sort of feel like I’m part of it. It would be nice to share thoughts.
- Met Andrea! Italian and tall.
- Broke the glass in front of camera. Ordered a replacement, should be easy to fix. Wanted to share everything on Hangouts, now was unable 🙁
- Want to go to Prague 😀
- Disappointingly easy to find a restaurant with a big group. I thought that it is a given that’ll always take ages to decide.