When you bring together 200 Local Guides from 64 different countries, different backgrounds, and native languages, it is natural that you need a lingua franca for everyone to understand each other. Therefore, speaking English is a mandatory requirement to attend Connect Live. However, more than a common language, what brought us together was an incredible energy.
Over the past five months, I’ve been very active on both Local Guides Connect and Telegram unofficial groups, have participated in and hosted virtual meetups. I have even been nominated “Connect Live Attendee of The Week” (Thanks again @LuisMGonzalez, for the nomination @DeniGu for the amazing text, and the Local Guides Team for choosing me). As a result, I had met virtually many people who, in person, are even more amazing. On the other hand, I also met people that I had never chatted before and who are also incredible. Even though they are not so active on Connect (sure, they will be now), they are also amazing and had made significant contributions to Google Maps in different ways. Now, it’s easier to understand that Google Local Guides Team finds something special in each attendee
During the conference, we had the opportunity to come face to face with Googlers, ask questions, come up with ideas, suggestions, and give feedback about Google Maps and the Local Guides Program. Even the craziest ideas we came up with were kindly and honestly received. It was essential to know that I was being heard.
One of my favorite parts of Connect Live was Wednesday’s Breakout Session. We were in a room with few people and were able to come up with suggestions and learn more. I was able to understand more about the purpose of Local Guides Connect, and I’m very excited by the news that will come out.
I also really enjoyed the opportunities for interaction with the Googlers both in the sessions created for this purpose, during the reception and closing parties and in the breaks for breakfast, brunch, snack, dinner, etc. (No one can complain that they got hungry, LOL). So, I want to thank the Local Guides Team, especially @TraciC and @brittym, for preparing such a fantastic event.
I’ll bring friends for a lifetime. #TeamBrazil was awesome, and I would like to mention here everyone. As the tags are limited, I want everyone to feel represented by @sanchestom and Cauê (unfortunately, I don’t know his Connect Name). Tom made his first international trip (actually, it was his first flight) and made the most of it (in fact, he’s still traveling). Tom was the first Local Guide that I met online, and Cauê was a local guide that we just met in San Jose, but quickly join us a Team.
About the international team, I would need a lot of tags (just #TeamItalia and “Los Latinos” would me cost dozens of tags), besides, of course, the tremendous Local Guides from North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, and the Aussies (oi, oi, oi).
However, I could not fail to name @Cecilita and @Jesi , "mi hermanas” from Argentina, whom I hope to see very soon, in Brazil, Argentina, or anywhere in the world. Each in their way, they are smart, super-acting as Local Guides and amazing people.
Connect Live has really connected us!
Thank you very much!
See you around!
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i am seriously considering that.
