I work in Corporate Finance and teach a graduate class at NYU. I only wear white shirts at work. My passion is health care, education, and public libraries. Being a local guide in Google Maps enables me to do both.
Local guides take the bus
Corporate travel entails flying business and staying at dull, fancy hotels. Like George Clooney in “Up in the Air”, I only travel with a carry-on and identical white shirts. Unlike him, I am an introvert and don’t typically meet interesting people at these places. My business hotel reviews are about whether they have a good iron, WIFI, and I can check-in and out simultaneously when staying for just one night.
Companies organize pick-ups when I arrive. Most of the time, I use public transport instead. Last month, rental cars were sold out in the Dominican Republic. I used a moto to get out of the airport and then transferred to the public bus. How did I do it? My review has pictures of where the bus stops, how much it costs, and where to get off. This is one of 15 entries to my list of public transport out of the airport around the world.
My colleagues at work don’t believe that I also take buses to travel from Detroit to NYC, or from Benin to Togo in Africa. So, I upload videos riding Uber motos, trains, buses and the passport stamps of the 193 countries visited. Being a “local” means a lot to me.
Health care around the world. On Google maps
When I travel abroad, I go to local public hospitals and wait in line like anyone else. I talk to people to understand how long it takes to get an appointment and how doctors treat them. My list of Public Hospitals around the world details which ones are completely free, also to immigrants, and the quality of service provided. I document best practices, such as having condoms available in a discreet place at the entrance, as well as the great work that is done by folks like these midwives. Google maps make it easy.
Best Public libraries accessible to everyone
Public libraries make a tremendous difference in the life of people. From Houston to Helsinki, and New York City to Los Angeles, I show how libraries help people find jobs and children overcome poverty. I always get a library card and show others how to do it. On my list of public libraries, I commend those who give access to everyone. At libraries where most privileges are restricted to residents, I also review them to try to persuade them to change their policies.
Welcome to my country
Ten years ago, my colleagues in Moscow pointed out that Russian immigration officers never smile. I bet them a dollar I would make the officer smile when departing that evening. (I won the bet). My airport reviews detail how long immigration takes, whether to get a visa on arrival and in which currency to pay, how to use a passport scanner and the officers’ cultural differences when addressing visitors (“Sir” in Germany to “What’s up mate” in Australia). Last year, in Bhutan, the officer let me stand on his side of the counter to take a picture. That’s a first.
Shopping like a local, in 51 countries
Worried about whether you’ll find the products you like in other countries? How much would the shampoo and deodorant left at security will cost? I visit local markets from Madrid to Madagascar, and supermarkets from New Jersey to London Tokyo, to show assortment and prices on my list of grocery stores. My pictures and reviews are available for over 51 countries and have over 40 million views.
Why I love being a Google local guide
How can someone working in Finance, with tables and numbers, provide information that is useful to others? I’ve traveled to 193 countries because I am curious about how other people live. Being a Google local guide enables me to leverage my “day job” with my passion: making information available about health care, education, and libraries, to help demolish borders.