Patxi !!!!!!!!!!!

February 18, 2008 · Posted in Events

As several blogs have already been reported as the daily Campus Party Brazil, would be redundant if I did the same. Actually, I did because I could not, and is the reason I could not, I'll tell you here.

Given the appeal of the now great friend Gustavo Gonzalez, published in the br-linux , I used what was on "vacation" and I decided to apply for a vacancy for a volunteer to work at the Campus Party. I already participate voluntarily in free software projects, but physically it would appear the first time.

I contacted, I sent curriculum (was for volunteers at the technical level), and Carnival on Monday, I received an email asking to attend the Biennial building at Ibirapuera on Tuesday afternoon.

Arriving there, I was introduced to Polkan (Colombia) and Pablo and Samira (Spain), which would be our engineers. We know where would be the event and arranged to be there the next day. They expected about 30 volunteers, and there were numerous 2. And I also now great friend, Franci.

We returned home with a mission to find more volunteers until the next day. Despite all the circumstances point to the contrary, I got the support of my buddy Gerard. Very happy with it, I called a childhood friend, Fernando, Rio de Janeiro, and convinced him to come to Sao Paulo to be voluntary. He who is always willing to help pay of the own pocket and came just to be voluntary. This dixou me so happy that I called my girlfriend, Luciana, the Holy Spirit, and convinced her to take a plane to come here.

Ash Wednesday - 06/02/2008

I seek and Geraldo Fernando Road in the morning, keep your bags, take a coffee padoca near here and went to the Ibirapuera. Arriving there, we found Franci along with James and Patricia (brave new) and went to work. Mission: to hold the tables and disbursed more than 50 km of network cables (yes, 50 thousand meters of network cable !!!). However, there may the biggest challenge was to understand what the engineers wanted. The riddle of Babel, was resolved through a three-way handshake: They spoke slowly in Spanish, we we responded slowly in Portuguese, and did the cop insists, in English. Snap!

By day's end we seek Luciana at the airport and we all went to sleep exhausted from arresting cable.

Thursday - 07/02/2008

Antes da Tempestade There appeared no more voluntary. There were six to do the work of thirty. We made a silent pact to push hard to ensure that the network infrastructure would be ready on time. We use the tricks learned the day before and coordinate a team of bank support for end to hold the cables. We test more than 5000 RJ-45 connectors. On this day, we began to lose track of time. Any report from here may have corrupted the timeline. At our disposal were three verbs: eat, sleep, work. The note of the day was the idea of buying those gloves mason. They saved our hands of developers :)

Friday - 08/02/2008

From the first day we saw that the language would be a difficulty but not an impediment. We learned that more important than giving and / or receive orders, was to understand and be understood.

We continue to test connectors, and at the end of the day, more than two thousand meters of optical fiber should be initiated and carefully protected under heavy channels and moldy wood. Half of the fiber was launched. The deadline was coming. Voltage on all sides. We could not fail. We commit ourselves to this.

After much insistence, Fernando Pablo persuaded to leave with us for an informal chat in potuñolish, of course!

Saturday - 09/02/2008

Ninho de Mafagafos Four hours of sleep after Friday, spent the morning placing the channels to protect the first half-fiber released on Friday, and this gave a lot of work. The big problem to launch the rest of the fiber, was that it had to be launched at a time when there was traffic of people, for a bruised could damage it. She had to be gently released and protected, or all the work could be compromised. That moment came only late in the afternoon, and with fewer people paying two cents, we have provided the rest of the fiber very quickly. Still, the night varamos launching fiber. Point to Luciana, who after an anonymous packet transform the initial fibers into a nest of Balrog, disbursements and organized all, one by one, speeding enormously the withdrawal of same after the event.

Sunday - 10/02/2008

Jantar Tests, fixes, adjustments and related equipment. Everything should be working no matter the effort. The event would begin the following day. We work until a time like this where the sun was already asleep so long. We reported our work shift during the event. Six would work from 23:00 pm until 7:00 pm the next day. The other shifts would be guaranteed by the staff of Vanzolini affectionately renamed during the event by campuseiros, Established [no, I'll write it here !!!].

We went home with one goal in mind: sleep. And the only thing we did during the whole next day.

Monday - 11/02/2008, The Big Day

Antes de ser atropelado pela manada de Reporterontes We arrived at the event just before the official opening. I had the honor of being run over and nearly trampled by a herd of Reporterontes frenzy that accompanied our Minister of Culture. I think that rhinos have been more polished. Unlike them, the minister was friendly and polite. An example to be followed.

Abertura do Campus PArty Brasil 2008

From there, we worked night and tried to use the event day. Sleep? "Sleep is for wimps!" That caused dismay for our Colombian friends: "The Brazilians are not human!", Their words ...

Traditional Coverage:

On Monday , Tuesday , Wednesday , Thursday , Friday

The Negatives

Although promised during registration, no alternative food for those who had dietary restrictions. For me the food was nice, but many vegetarians complaining rightly because almost everything had meat, and received a smile of mockery in response. I've seen. Regrettable. The worst is that the only place that sold food in there charging a fortune. Forcing participants to leave the park to eat a sandwich, and then get stopped by security. What a shame!

Sobras de brindes sendo recolhidas, com conteúdo descartado à esquerda The Trophy "Maid of the Week" goes to a telecommunications company, main sponsor of the event, which unlike all other companies at the event, refused to give the volunteers with a backpack full of propaganda. The most ridiculous was the excuse:

"Volunteers are not entitled to make backpacks. The backpacks are for paying subscribers. "

Okay, okay, they should be counted, right? Wrong. The many who remained were gathered on Sunday afternoon. Stop everything. I ran as a volunteer, brought friends from afar, drawing from our own pockets to help build a network infrastructure that was advertising for that company. Then I hear that I have no "right" to make a toast. Firstly we were volunteers. We went there willingly. No charge. Without expecting anything in return. Then an hour off, I stand as a potential customer of the business and the fact that the badge says "Technical Assistance", meaning that I spent the morning helping to ensure that other potential clients use the network of the business, I have "right" to access the marketing materials of the same company? Not half paradoxical?

The point here is not the question I want a freebie. The issue is that I as a potential client was completely ignored just because he worked at the event. In the constitution it is called discrimination. In a sense I will not starve by not getting a freebie that does not cost more than $ 10.00, I care so little carrying a green backpack doing free advertising, since I use a Targus that serves me very well. The point is that since this company was the main beneficiary from the event, I felt used, mainly because he worked free for the sake of it. For these and other, I stopped being his client last year, and I do not regret.

This is good: Friday, returned home to pick up the bags of Luciana, would return to the Holy Spirit in the early hours of Saturday. Ended up at Ibirapuera after midnight. When trying to enter through gate 3 as usual, we were stopped by park security, claiming to have received orders not to let anyone inside. They refused to call the organization and is quite ironic and disrespectful. Detail: all were barred duly accredited and badge of the event, and more, people who were out there to work, all others (about fifteen people) came from distant cities and paid to sleep in tents in the event. Would be prevented from entering sleep. Had to foreigners barred from entering to sleep. We had trouble talking to the organization by phone since cell phones did not work well inside the building. Result: two hours we were barred at the gate until a campuseiro accompany a young woman came to the exit and is interested in the subject. He quickly ran to the technical assistance and warned our partners. Fifteen minutes later there was a "magic" command to let everyone join. On foot. The car was stopped outside the park to talk with the organization (who said he knew of any order), and send back to free entry, the car now.

Another good: Volunteer Fined for Delaying is five minutes to swap the blue parking ticket. Look, the guy leaves home, goes to work for free at Ibirapuera willingly purchase a blue bead entire ticket and is being fined for working for free and Delaying five minutes to renew the ticket was already paid. No right to complain. Volunteer is not entitled to parking ... It's soft?

Feast Alternative: Class Axe. Seriously, no one deserves! In the middle of the night! Worse, it was public! And both public who had two editions ...

Do not get a picture with Mad Dog. By Luciana did it! : (

Positive Points

Radar Saber M60 The greatest technological innovation since Microsoft made an event: With a 5.5Gbps bandwidth available, it leads to the incredible and unprecedented event cd installation of MSN. How could I live without it so far?

The level of the talks that I attended (without sleep :) ) I believe, was in line with the focus of the event.

The animation of the crowd. Patxi !!!!!!!!!!!

The Presence of the Mad Dog.

See our old buddy Radar M60 Know the Brazilian Army.

A Lecture by Marcos Pontes. Honestly, one of the most amazing I've ever seen. He makes us feel proud of ourselves, of our efforts. Only by hearing and seeing his eyes shine when talking about the significance of representing the country into something unique. I can not describe with words. It was the only speaker to a standing ovation for several minutes. That was an experience of those who paid any money.

I think the biggest plus point was to have the opportunity to exchange experiences with people from other countries. We made great friends that will stay forever. We learn among other things, that the language will never be a barrier as long as respect and good will. The responsibility, friendship and commitment, are able to make us do things we normally regard as impossible. Not speak Portuguese, did not speak English, did not speak Spanish. We were talking something that was enough to develop synergy that led us to achieve our goals.

The most important thing was that despite not normally work with network infrastructure and support, we enjoyed ourselves. Even turning the night in the Service, even almost anything not sleeping for two weeks. What we took home the Campus Party was a treasure more precious than gold. No money paid it.

"Wait a moment please"

I could not fail to mention Gustavo, who came from Colombia without speaking Portuguese, with only a pocket dictionary. The first day I confess that I looked and thought "dictionary at hand? but this is not only in film? "A week later the guy was speaking almost fluent Portuguese. Do not come to me with the crop that Spanish is similar to Portuguese, the guy was talking Portuguese real! He insisted to achieve. Remarkable. The funny thing was to hear him, "Wait a moment, please," spoken phrase every time he would search for any word in the dictionary.

Finishing

After 14:00 pm on Sunday, dismantle all the equipment and collect the fibers. Undo is much easier to do ...

At night, yet we take our foreign friends for Social Gathering of São Paulo Perl Mongers that pierced the morning.

I thank all who worked with us and gave their sweat for the Campus Party Brazil was a success.

Some pictures of the scenes may be given at this link .

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