So, it looks like I’m presenting the keynote talk at WordCamp Hamburg 2014, which is both an incredible honour, and also a little scary…
The scary bit is that I’ve promised to intro the talk and do the Q&A in German (the bulk will be in English). A brave promise, but what was I thinking? First of all, and despite the fact that I still read enough in German, I have only spoken it sporadically, and usually not about WordPress (yes, I had to go look how to say “upload” in German…). Then, and even more worrying, my German sounds Viennese, a city both culturally and geographically very far from Hamburg; they will make fun of me, des was I scho jetzt, macht oba nix. Case in point, I had to promise not to jodel (which, by the way, shows you how much northern Germany knows about Austria: it’s Vienna, not Tirol: we don’t jodel.)
I am however mostly humbled to be invited to speak at an event organised by one of the oldest, largest, and most active WordPress communities in the world. I hope to make a good case for the planned internationalization push in 4.0, of course, and to “sell” WordCamp Europe 2014.
What I’m not sure of, is how to chronicle the relationship of this community with WordPress throughout the years (including some episodes of which I was part), and how, in the end, it came to represent all the power, graciousness and enthusiasm which has become a flag of WordPress, not only in Europe, but worldwide.
I have 10 days to come up with something brilliant.
down- and upload =herunter- und hochladen should not be a problem but vienese dialekt could be ;:D
Nice.
I am looking forward to your keynote and I am curious what story you will tell us #cantwait :)
Regarding language/dialects: we have 16 federal states and many more dialects so we are used to such things… I personally like the Austrian stuff. I am sure we’ll have a good time there. Don’t fear :-)
Hi Zé,
I met you in Leiden and talked to you in German. It’s pretty decent, if not to say very good for somesone not speaking it regularly. And I haven’t recognized any Austian acent, when you spoke German with us.
I am absolutely sure, that you will held a very good keynote at the WordCamp.
Auch ich habe Dich in Leiden beim Contributor Day getroffen und kann Dich „beruhigen“! Sowohl was das Deutsch, als auch was den Rest Deiner „Aufgabe“ angeht. Der Berliner sagt: Du machst det schon! (und zur Not blendet das Hambuger Orga-Team Untertitel ein). Ich freue mich auf ein Wiedersehen!
You said to me, you are afraid, that we think you are bavarian (because of the accent) and *then* I said you just don’t have to jodel to assure that. Northern Germany knows that no one from vienna is jodeling. But don’t wear your leather trousers. ;)
We know that the relationship between the German community and international WordPress community has difficulties in the last years, so please don’t keep quiet about that. Like a phoenix sometimes things have to be broken to can be rebuild better and stronger.
I am sure you will come up with something hilarious.
Dear Zé,
I’m looking forward to hear your keynote at #wchh14. It will be my fourth German WordCamp (Jena 2009 with Matt, Berlin 2010 @betahaus and Cologne 2011).
I have to support Thorstens wish:
We know that the relationship between the German community and international WordPress community has difficulties in the last years, so please don’t keep quiet about that. Like a phoenix sometimes things have to be broken to can be rebuild better and stronger.
It would be really great, if you talk about wpde.org vs. de.wordpress.org. And how to better integrate the German WP community into the international context.
Take care,
Nick
PS: I know the perfect Martini in HH…