I flew to Nuremberg, Germany, on May 23 and arrived on May 24, eager to attend a tech conference. I genuinely enjoy these events, as they provide incredible opportunities to connect with like-minded individuals, exchange ideas, and share my passion for technology. Participating in an open-source conference has always been a dream of mine, and this experience was especially meaningful. 

My primary goal for attending the conference was to network extensively, gain fresh perspectives, and stay motivated to push boundaries and achieve great things in my work. We checked into the Azimut Hotel at 1 PM, located just 15 minutes from the venue. The openSUSE Conference 2023 was held from May 26 to May 28 at Z-Bau.


Attending this conference marked a series of firsts for me. it was my first time traveling outside of Mauritius, my first time on a plane, and my long-held dream of visiting Europe finally came true. While I was thrilled about the journey, I was also a bit nervous. Having never traveled internationally, I had no experience navigating metros or unfamiliar streets, let alone figuring out how people change metro lines and get around efficiently.
There were so many things I wanted to learn and prepare for before heading to Germany, but with limited time, I couldn’t manage it all. I reassured myself by deciding to stick close to my friends and learn as I went, trusting the experience would teach me along the way.

An Incident That Taught Me Independence: 

I mostly relied on my friends during the trip, as they were familiar with using the metro and had visited Europe many times before. One morning, we planned to visit Mercado Nürnberg and left the hotel at 9 a.m. to catch the metro. Just as it was my turn to board, the doors closed, leaving me behind.
My friend motioned for me to take the next train, but I was overcome with panic. Desperately, I asked a German commuter if they spoke English and could help me, but they shook their head. Summoning my courage, I boarded the next metro and used Google Maps to navigate my way successfully to Mercado.
That moment was a turning point for me. From then on, I could confidently navigate the streets of Nuremberg, saving time and exploring the city independently using just my map.


I was mostly interested in technical presentations. Listing a few of the technical talks I attended:

1. 1. Podman Containers with Systemd and Ansible
2. 2. Agama: A Linux Installer for the Future
3. 3. The Geeko View on DNF 5 by Neal Gompa
4. 4. The New Mainframe for Edge Computing and Industry 4.0
5. 5. Is Big Endian Continuously the Right Name?
6. 6. SELinux in ALP

Lessons and Practices from My First International Conference

Attending my first international conference taught me several valuable lessons, both personally and professionally:

1. 1. Take the opportunity to connect with as many people as possible. Whether it’s a casual chat over coffee or a deep discussion during a session, these interactions can foster meaningful connections and expand your perspective.
2. 2. Actively participate in sessions by jotting down questions. Engaging speakers afterwards not only clarifies your understanding but also makes for memorable interactions.
3. 3. Use the opportunity to meet engineers from diverse backgrounds. Asking insightful questions and listening carefully to their responses can provide invaluable knowledge.
4. 4. Don’t hesitate to join ongoing discussions. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the people, your input can add value and spark engaging dialogues.
   
   
5. 5. Start your day with a nutritious breakfast to stay energized. Attend technical sessions in the morning when your mind is fresh. Reserve the afternoons for lighter, non-technical activities.
   
   
6. Bring your laptop for note-taking.
   
   
7. Wear comfortable clothing and shoes to navigate the venue with ease.

Conclusion

The openSUSE Conference 2023 was an incredible experience that not only enriched my technical knowledge but also helped me grow as an individual. From navigating a new city to engaging with a global community, every moment of this journey was transformative. I look forward to attending more such events in the future.