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This past October The entire WooTeam arrived in Leiden for WooTrip 2013. For those unfamiliar with WooTrip it is an occasion is a chance for our entire team to meet in a single place for a week of team building, bonding and the chance to work side by together with colleagues that typically operate from different locations around the globe. This year, we all also attended WordCamp Europe, as part of WooTrip.
With our entire team together, it was also a chance for us to experience the distinct culture of Leiden. In addition to this fun, our whole team was active at our help desk in order to ensure an uninterrupted support experience.
Hello, Leiden
Handshakes when members of the team meet for the first time at Schipol the airport. Following the departure of trains and flights all over the globe Our team was full steam ahead towards Leiden the quiet city situated in Holland. After several hours of traveling arriving at Amsterdam's Schiphol airport. The real adventure began- meeting our fellow colleagues.
After we found one other (bear in mind, some of us had never met in person until this point, which made meeting up than it should be) Then we set off for the train journey to Leiden.
The remainder of the day was filled with checking in to our hotel, re-connecting with long-distance colleagues resting up from the long journey and checking in at our help desk. We then decided to part-take an active part in the 3 Oktober festival in Leiden.
3 Oktober
The Siege of Leiden festival is an event to commemorate the conclusion of the Spanish siege of the town of Leiden during the 1500's. It is a city-wide street fair including live music carnival rides, as well as, most importantly, chips laced made with mayonnaise ("friet met mayo").
For the next celebration We gathered to have a team-wide welcome meal and also celebrated our business development manager, Joel's, 30th birthday, with a stunning cake decorated in "Dutch Orange" frosting.
What a perfect day to be arriving in Leiden.
WordCamp Europe
The next morning, we rose early for a trip for WordCamp Europe to meet others who were there and listen to an inspiring lecture. It was the first time we attended WordCamp Europe, this was an event that which we're grateful to be participant in.
Numerous connections were made or strengthened, much knowledge was exchanged and most importantly, much entertainment was had. Thanks to everyone involved with organising the event and here's to the next.
Goodbye, Leiden
The following few days following WordCamp Europe were spent soaking in as much diverse Dutch culture as was possible. The highlights included several visits to Amsterdam as well as a visit to Heineken Brewery, and the Heineken Brewery and, of course, enjoying extra chips, mayonnaise and other snacks.
The significance of WooTrips
In addition to the fun, networking and cultural explorations the trips provide an opportunity for us to meet on a more face-to-face level. This includes several (many) gatherings for the team and debugging problems together and, like every WooTrip the "State of the Woo" general team meeting in which we review the way that our year is going, discuss what the next year will appear for Woo and debate ideas, feedback and topics we'd like us to go towards, together as a group. This is unlike any other we have which are invaluable to WooThemes and the team we work with.
All of us went home from Leiden filled with joy, inspirational thoughts and a fervour to spur on the exciting projects we've got on the cards.
The lobby of the hotel became WooHQ's official WooHQ. Support tickets were culled.
A beer tasting in Heineken brewery. Heineken brewery.
The WooTeam unites, even if it's only for a single week... Thanks to everyone involved in creating this year's WooTrip a resounding success, to the amazing WordPress users we interacted with and thanks to Leiden for inviting us to join you and accommodating our thirty-odd strong team at your restaurants (even even if we couldn't get an appointment).