My WordCamp Romania 2024 Experience: Networking, Growth, and Fun

What makes an event truly memorable? Is it the people, the experiences, or the unexpected twists that shape your journey? For me, WordCamp Romania 2024 was all of this and more—a perfect blend of excitement, challenges, and connections. This wasn’t just my first WordCamp outside Bangladesh; it was also WPPOOL’s debut as a sponsor. And, oh, what a ride it was! This post might get a bit lengthy, filled with some photos I captured during my trip and at the event. Stay with me and scroll through if you’re passionate enough to relive the journey! 🙌

A Dream Almost Out of Reach: The Visa Hurdle

When I decided to attend WordCamp Romania, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy. Living in Turkey meant I needed a visa to travel, and Romania required a Schengen visa. However, I had a plan. Since I wanted to explore Amsterdam and visit friends in the Netherlands before heading to Romania, I applied for a Dutch visa.

But things didn’t go as smoothly as I’d hoped. After submitting my application, I realized it could take up to 45 days to get my passport back. WordCamp Romania was only a few weeks away. My heart sank. The dates didn’t align, and I prepared myself for the possibility of missing the event. I even settled for a remote sponsorship instead of a physical presence, thinking I wouldn’t make it.

Then, a miracle happened. Just 15 days later, I received a notification that my passport was ready. I couldn’t believe it! Excitement mixed with relief as I rushed to collect it. With renewed hope, I upgraded WPPOOL’s sponsorship to bronze and started planning for the journey ahead.

Planning My Journey: New Places, New Challenges

Traveling to a new country is always an adventure, especially when you’re navigating language barriers and cultural differences. To make things easier, I decided to hire a local event ambassador through Upwork. That’s how I met Adrian Murario—a fantastic individual who became my guide, translator, and problem-solver for the duration of the event.

Adrian not only helped me navigate Bucharest and Brașov but also managed crucial logistics, like securing a massive 65-inch TV for our booth. I can’t overstate how much of a difference his support made.

The Long Road to Brașov: A Scenic Adventure & losing my glasses 👓

My journey to Brașov started with an unusual ride booked through BlaBlaCar. Instead of a car, I found myself in a large van, sitting beside the driver for the four-hour journey. The ride was slow, thanks to narrow roads and traffic, but the scenery was breathtaking. Snow-dusted mountains, golden sunsets, and lush forests made every moment magical.

However, the adventure didn’t end there. Once the van dropped me off on the outskirts of Brașov, I had to take a Bolt ride to my hotel. Exhausted and slightly disoriented, I accidentally left my glasses in the car. When I contacted the driver, he asked for €20 to return them. I decided to let it go—sometimes, you just have to accept these little losses.

Setting Up: Challenges Turned into Opportunities

As a bronze sponsor, we were initially allocated a small square table. This posed a problem for our massive 65-inch TV—it simply didn’t fit. Just when I thought I’d have to rethink our setup, the event organizers, Robert Hapiuc and Lumi Ciobanu, came to the rescue. They swapped our table with a larger round one, which not only accommodated the TV but also added a touch of elegance to our booth.

Positioned next to industry leaders like Kinsta and WP Rocket, our booth quickly became a focal point of activity. It felt surreal to share the floor with such giants, but it also gave me a sense of pride in how far WPPOOL has come.

Games, Laughter, and Crowds: The Heart of Our Booth

The centerpiece of our booth was an interactive WordPress quiz game displayed on the massive TV. The idea was simple but effective: attendees could test their WordPress knowledge through fun, bite-sized multiple-choice questions. The response was phenomenal. Crowds gathered around the screen, cheering each other on and vying for prizes like T-shirts, water bottles, stickers, and key rings.

One of the highlights was Alex, an attendee who became our unofficial cheerleader. She was so enthusiastic about the game that she started calling others to join and even posted about her experience on LinkedIn. Her excitement was contagious and brought even more visitors to our booth.

Networking Gold: Conversations That Matter

WordCamp Romania wasn’t just about showcasing WPPOOL—it was an incredible opportunity to connect with inspiring people and exchange ideas. I had so many conversations with so many amazing individuals that I’ve honestly forgotten most of the details. But here are a few highlights I managed to recall:

• Vlad Tudorie from FusePress shared fascinating insights into his innovative product development journey. It was impressive to learn how FusePress helps freelancers, agencies, and business owners save time and costs by managing multiple sites from a single platform. The concept of a centralized support system struck me as both practical and ingenious.

• Denis Sandu and Dragos Vrejiu from Growably are doing phenomenal work in the AI space. Their enthusiasm and forward-thinking approach were truly inspiring. I was particularly intrigued by their AI products, HeyDo and SharedAI. The idea of utilizing idle system resources is simply brilliant! I still need to explore their solutions further to fully understand how they work, but the potential is undoubtedly exciting.

• Ariadna Jugariu from Linguise introduced me to their live editor-based translation system. The concept of live translations is something I absolutely love because managing strings in multiple languages can be incredibly messy and challenging. Ariadna also showed great interest in our FormyChat plugin, making for a lively and engaging conversation.

• The WP Rocket team was stationed right next to us, and Adina was incredibly busy collecting leads for their raffle draw. (Unfortunately, I didn’t win.) I also attended the session by Mathieu Lamiot on Observability for WordPress in Practice, which was fantastic. The session was packed with practical tools and techniques to ensure smooth product releases, and I found myself completely immersed in it.

Each conversation brought fresh perspectives and exciting possibilities for collaboration. It was a whirlwind of inspiration, and I left feeling energized and full of ideas!

Products That Stood Out

Our products garnered significant attention at WordCamp Romania, each offering unique and valuable solutions for WordPress users. We recently launched the ArchiveMaster Beta, which attracted interest from several visitors eager to learn how it works. WP Dark Mode also sparked curiosity, with attendees asking whether it is automatically compatible with other themes. Among all our offerings, the following plugins received the most attention, leading to countless questions from the audience. I’ve been responding to these inquiries through LinkedIn and email, and for those who haven’t heard back yet—trust me, I’ll get back to you soon! 😊

• FlexTable – Sheets to WP Table Plugin: This plugin allows users to create dynamic tables directly from Google Sheets and have them automatically sync with WordPress. Attendees were impressed by its simplicity and efficiency, making it ideal for those managing large datasets.
  
• FlexSync Plugins for WooCommerce – Stock Sync with Google Sheets: This plugin streamlines inventory management by syncing WooCommerce stock levels with Google Sheets. It saves time and automates updates, ensuring inventory is always accurate.
  
• Order Sync with Google Sheets: Perfect for managing orders, this plugin syncs WooCommerce orders directly to Google Sheets, providing an easy and efficient way to handle order data.
  
• Easy Video Reviews: This innovative tool lets website visitors record and submit video reviews directly from the site. The ability to manage and showcase these video reviews seamlessly on a WordPress website received glowing feedback, with many attendees calling it a game-changer for engagement and authenticity. Here is the Testimonial from David for Easy Video Reviews!
  

Cold Weather, Warm Connections

Brașov’s cold weather added a unique charm to the event. With temperatures hovering around -1°C at night, stepping outside for community photos was an adventure in itself. Despite the chill, the warmth of the WordPress community made everything worthwhile. The camaraderie, shared laughs, and collaborative spirit were a testament to what makes WordCamps so special.

Lessons Learned and Benefits Gained

Reflecting on the event, it’s hard to quantify the ROI of attending a WordCamp. While immediate business benefits may not be clear, the exposure WPPOOL received, the connections I made, and the knowledge I gained are invaluable. Our products reached a broader audience, and we established relationships that could lead to exciting opportunities in the future.

Thanks to the event organizer and their hard work to make it successful

A heartfelt thank you to the organizers of WordCamp Romania for hosting such an incredible event. The seamless coordination, welcoming atmosphere, and thoughtfully curated sessions made it an unforgettable experience for everyone involved. From the inspiring talks to the invaluable networking opportunities, every detail was handled with care and professionalism. Your hard work and dedication brought together a vibrant community of WordPress enthusiasts, creating a space for collaboration, learning, and innovation. I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to be part of this amazing event—thank you for making it all possible!

Other Countries & Cities I Visited Before & After WordCamp 🇳🇱 🇮🇹

As mentioned earlier, I applied for a Netherlands visa, so before the event, I took the opportunity to explore Amsterdam. While the city has its charm, I’ve always preferred the tranquility of lakes, mountains, and the countryside over the hustle and bustle of urban life. I spent one day in Amsterdam soaking in its vibrant culture and then traveled to Groningen the next day to visit Sumon Khan. The 2.5-hour trip from Amsterdam was well worth it—a wonderful afternoon spent with his family, wandering around in the chilly, rainy weather, which made the experience even more memorable.

After the event, I felt an irresistible urge to explore more of Europe and decided to visit Milan, Italy, along with some friends. It was my first time in Italy, and I absolutely loved the blend of history and nature in the region. We visited Como, the birthplace of Alessandro Volta (who invented electricity). Unfortunately, the museum was closed, but the breathtaking views of the area more than made up for it.

Switzerland, however, was the highlight of this trip. Originally, we planned to visit the Gotthard Pass, but bad luck struck—the road was closed. Instead, we ventured to Airolo, and what a detour it was! The lush green landscapes were simply stunning, and to top it all off, we experienced snow! The serene beauty of Airolo was an unforgettable experience, leaving me with memories I’ll cherish for a lifetime.

A Journey Worth Taking

WordCamp Romania 2024 was more than just an event—it was a journey of growth, discovery, and connection. From overcoming visa challenges to hosting a vibrant booth and meeting inspiring individuals, every moment contributed to building stronger relationships within the WordPress community.

This experience taught me the value of stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing new opportunities. As I look forward to future WordCamps, I can confidently say this is just the beginning of WPPOOL’s journey in the global WordPress ecosystem. I’m excited to see where this road leads next.

I have a deep love for traveling and exploring the world, especially nature—the mountains, snow, lakes, and lush valleys. I hope my passion for exploration continues until my very last day. November 24 trip was something that I’ll never forget, a perfect blend of everything I love.