As a local guide, I started my journey on September 1st, 2019. Since then I heard a lot of things about meet-ups hosted by Bangladeshi local guides. But I did not get a chance to join any meet-up in Dhaka before today. It was the 123rd Meet-Up in Bangladesh hosted by the local guide @SShuvo . Thanks and credits go to him for arranging this excellent Meet-up.
# What was the theme
Though it was titled “Experience Sharing Meet-Up 2019” but it was beyond this. Our main target was to listen to the experience of Mahbub Munna’s joining of Connect Live-2019. But there were so many other things that our scheduled time was over and we spent extra time and enjoyed the program very much.
#How did I prepare and attend today’s meet-up
As it was my first meet-up to join after starting my journey as a local guide, so I was very much excited for this to join once I got the confirmation mail from the host. From last night my excitement was increasing and I could not sleep well. I think this happened to some others also who were attending the meet-up for the first time. I left started early to avoid the traffic jam and reached to Natun Bazar timely. I was looking for the shuttle bus provided by United International University for today’s meet-up. But as I was little early there, so the bus was not there accordingly. I saw some other local guides waiting for the bus also. I met and shake my hand with them. We exchanged some primary ideas there about local guiding in Bangladesh. My excitement increased after meeting with them. Finally, the bus came timely and we got in accordingly. After a few minutes, we reached the beautiful campus of the United International University.
# First Session of the Meet-up
After reaching our venue we were advised to go to the auditorium of the university. The core team of Bangladesh local guide was working there for us. We took our gift items (T-shirt, pen, and pad) and entered into the auditorium in a disciplined way. After getting the t-shirt we all did wear it and the full place got a very nice and festive look. Everybody with the same t-shirt created a very close and friendly environment inside the hall. It seemed to me that everybody was known to me for long though I have never seen them before. We are discussing and sharing our experience with each other in a way that we were nothing but brother and sister. In this session, @LyricMitra told her experience as a woman local guide in Bangladesh very spontaneously. After the introduction speech, there was a Q/A session where 4 prominent Bangladeshi Local Guides answered the questions asked by the attendees. We learned a lot of things from this session. We also came to know from them how was their starting.
# Photo session and refreshment
After the end of the first session, we went for the photo session as per our schedule. We took several individual and group photos in front of the nice university building. A drone was used to take some group photos and videos. We enjoyed this session very much as the drone was flying over us like a bird and taking photos. In this session, we sent a birthday wish to our dearest moderator @TraciC . I hope Mahbub Munna will send our wish to her accordingly.
After the photo session we went for the refreshment. There was a nice arrangement for us in the campus kitchen. We were given a piece of cake, a burger, shawarma (or porta not sure though) and a bottle of coke. These items were just more than enough for us. This session also brought local guides closer to each other while eating and gossiping. After the snacks break we went to the sports ground for a while before the starting of the second session.
# Second session
The second session was the most exciting. Because connect moderator @SumaiyaZafrinC came to the stage and took the microphone. We were thrilled while she was telling her experience at the beginning of her career as a local guide. She also answered question and gave us valuable advice regarding what to do or not do as a local guide with some tricks and tips. There was a pin drop silent while she was talking to us.
After her @MahabubMunna came to the stage and told his experience of joining the Connect Live program 2019. He was also talking like a magician with relevant slides on the screen, so we did not get a chance to take our eyes and ears away from him. We learned a lot from him about what to do if we want to join the next Connect Live in 2020. He also gave us some guidelines about Google’s upcoming programs. We came to know about a lot of things from his speech that really happens in the Connect Live program. I think many of us have started of dreaming to join the next Connect Live program in 2020.
# And the end
After the speech of @MahabubMunna there was another excitement of getting valuable prizes from the host for various events. Many of us got prizes and we were happy for them. The prizegiving ceremony was a very lively part. We enjoyed this part very much. We actively participated and enjoyed the Digital Lottery!!! system of getting prizes. We remembered and made a video for our beloved @Designer_Biswajit who was unable to join us for a road accident. We missed him very much. Finally our lively and relative like Meet-up came to an end inside the auditorium. While we were leaving one by one we were given nice chocolate which @MahabubMunna carried for us from the USA.
My experience of joining the first meet-up in my life will be memorable and will be alive for the rest of my life. I will never forget this day. Thanks to the host, UIU, and to all.
You can see many photos here posted by the attendees
