For a Local Guide (who is very shy and who seeks perfection, like myself) the 2 most challenging things to do are:
- Create the Connect Live Application (because every single one of us wants to win the slot)
- Write the Connect Live Re-cap post (because its important to share our experience with our community and the world)
But, totally worth it, as its such a rewarding process and the entire journey transforms you into a better version of yourself. There is so much to talk about the Connect Live event that I personally feel that my re-cap won’t do justice with the experience, the amount of energy and efforts our Googlers put into it, the sheer love and passion from 200 Local Guides and the volume of positive vibes throughout the process. So, this year I am going to present my experience in a different way:
- by talking about things that I loved the most
- highlighting other CL19 Re-caps that I personally loved reading
- An insight into the passion and love of Local Guides for Connect Live
- and a personal note with all the reasons to be part of it
::MUST READ::
@KatieMcBroom 's posts kept all of us thrilled, connected and up-to-dated throughout the event. I think these are some great reads to step into the exciting world of CL19. ( CL Kickoff | Community at Google Event Center | Closing Party | Brunch and awards )
@mchomsky 's post that comes straight from her heart, that takes you through the program format at CL19. (Don’t forget to check that awesome Photo Album,)
@LuigiZ’s amazing Re-cap that covers some of the very exciting moments from CL19. (Luigi is awesome 
)
@Julien44’s Re-cap post with awesome photo collages that cover’s Paul’s 36-photo walks and other important events.
@anyaamorimV’s great post about the human connection and her CL19 experience
@AlexandreCampbell’s from #TeamBrazil is such an amazing person and his re-cap is nothing short of originality and the fun we had
@AdrianLunsong’s post, which is apparently helping/going to help all of us to write great and structured CL19 Re-caps
::WHAT I LOVED THE MOST ABOUT CL19::
Thanks to all the Googlers, @TraciC , @brittym you guys are the best. I still cannot understand how you managed to organize such a huge event with such level of details and accuracy . This year was different from CL18 in so many ways and personally I loved the following, the most:
- Added time to plan for Visas and Travel (that helped most of us)
- 200 Local Guides to see, which was incredibly beautiful. I hope next year its going to be 250
- More time to network (that addition of another day to the event really made a difference)
- Ability to interact with Googlers more freely. I loved it♥ I had so many discussions this year and I felt I had ample time to do so. ( I am so happy that I met @DeniGu and AngieYC in person, yayyy)
- Venues and Locations. Simply awesome
- The Lounge: last year we had great time at Local Guides Lounge. This year, it was wayyyy better with added space, games and plenty of things to do
- Food- Loved the fact that Googler’s addressed the dietary requirements of every single participant
- Reception - was on another level. The merchandise store, Local Guides market, photo wall you name it, it was just amazing
- Absolutely Loved the Lapel pins
- THAT PIXEL3 moment - we were not expecting that AT ALL. Thank you so much once again, we are all happy and proud to be part of #TeamPixel now♥
- Breakout sessions - with more time and flexible format, we were able to chat freely and discuss everything that we had in our minds. (very very happy about it)
- THAT Socks moment - hahaha, well all 200 of us are out of #LGBFC now, but let me just say that we were not expecting that at all and we were as crazy and excited to get those socks as we were for Pixels (Thanks Tina, you are amazing)
- Brunch and awards - loved it. Though we were all sad but the brunch awards really up-lifted us (Thanks to Jenny, she was amazing )
- Hugs, Laughter, Discussions, walks and some more hugs - that happens at every connect, at every other minute and CL19 gave us tons of reasons to have many of such experiences
::WHAT’s CONNECT LIVE TO THE ATTENDEES::
To sum it up, I had a chance to talk to some of the CL19 attendees, here’s what’s Connect Live is to them
::SHOULD YOU APPLY FOR CL 2020?::
There are no official news/updates on whether we are going to have another Connect Live event next year, or not. But, should you apply for the next event, if that happens? The answer to that question is simply YESSS and I can give you few reasons as well:
- The idea of helping your community by continuously working around the year adds a sense of belonging and responsibility. This is something that has now become part of our identity and we love absolutely feel proud and love doing it
- The sense of public service, friendly competition and making new connections every day is very rare and I can comfortably say that its ONLY the Local Guides program (Maps, StreetView and our presence on Connect) that allows us to do it
- That 1-minute long application video really wants you to be original and talk about your passion. It looks simple but it ignites the creative fire in you and you cannot help thinking about the next application video
- During the event you get to connect to amazing people. Unlike Business or academic conferences, we actually get to know these amazing individuals, learn their stories and passion and make lifelong friends
- There are no differences in this program, we only talk about out passion, maps and ways to make the world a better place. I am so happy and proud to say that I am part of this program where we are united by our passion
- Connect Live events are carefully programmed and you get so much information about the new tools, products, campaigns etc. (Though we cannot talk about most part of it being under NDAs, but that’s the beauty of it. At Connect Live we also learn to be considerate of privacy policies and guidelines and become more responsible of our actions)
- At Connect Live you network with so many people, that you actually define the true meaning of human connection all over again
- Ofcourse, you get to see USA, which is a beautiful country. But, I would still be excited if next Connect Live happens a block away from where I live, because its not just about getting perks after another, there’s more to that and its about going out there to see your family
- Lastly, I think most part of the experience cannot be described in words, you HAVE to be there to experience the energy, passion and love around you.
Thank you once again for going through my Re-cap
-Love
in your must read section.
