Did you know that the Local Guides program has not always been called Local Guides? Before then, it used to be called the Google City Experts program and was launched back in 2013 in several cities across the world, including San Francisco, where I used to live until two years ago. Naturally, I joined the program and became a Google City Expert before the program transitioned into Local Guides as we know it right now.
Last week I was attending the Connect Live event in Tokyo and something interesting happened. We had a welcoming reception on the first day and someone said hi to me. Apparently he recognized me back from the City Expert days! He used to live in San Francisco bay area as well but now residing in Tokyo. Back then the program was a lot smaller so whenever there were events, we mostly see the same faces. I remember we did comedy class, cheese making class, alcatraz cruise, etc.
I must say at first I didn’t recognize him, but the more we reminisce, all the memories started coming back to me. I happened to bring my City Experts t-shirts that used to be given out during one of the events back then, so naturally I had to show it off.
Wow @iyudhi, what a blast from the past! It’s amazing how far the program has come since the City Experts days. I’ve heard a few stories about how tight-knit that early community was, and your experience really brings that to life. So cool that you bumped into someone from back then—must have felt like a mini time-travel moment! Also, major props for still having the original City Experts t-shirt. That’s a real collector’s item now!
Omg, @iyudhi
This is a piece of HISTORY coming back to life.
Nice to see a reunion of City Experts.
I feel just a kid, compared with you and @KevinKwok
Ivan! Amazing bumming into you after over 12 years. And in Tokyo of all places! Its been a while but I think I remember that was the last big city experts event. They told us it was a small improve comedy class at fort mason. They also told us it would be a catered dinner. After dinner they surprised us and a party bus with live music and Christmas lights everywhere came to pick us up and drive us downtown. We then were dropped off at the ferry building and boarded a ferry late at night. They ferry had snacks and a live band. And then we went to Alcatraz! We were the very first people to see aiweiwei’s @Large exhibition! This also could have been two separate events and I’m just merging it all into one in my head…
I wish I took more photos back then. Not long after that party I officially joined Google as a designer and now I’m on the team and project that made me a city expert. Life is funny sometimes.
Also, sorry it’s confusing but I have 2 accounts. @kevkwok is my personal account with my LG status. This account I’m using to reply is my Google employee account
These are all the photos I could find. I’ll try to look at my older email tomorrow and maybe even find my old shirt. It was good to see you in person!
Love a story like this @iyudhi - don’t think I ever met @KevinKwok but he’s definitely familiar to me (having joined City Experts a few months before the transition as well), which goes to show the longevity of the program and the connections it can create. Reminds me of how @H-C-Davies and I met in NYC during that Connect Live event earlier this year and we had the same phenomena of realizing we’ve only ever followed each other’s contributions through Google Maps for years unintentionally to finally meet in person .
@SP31 Yes, sir! The community is strong and united, and I love that we continue to inspire curiosity together. It’s truly uplifting!"** PS Was a true honor finally meeting you in person!
@KevinKwok I found your personal account from another post, and wasn’t sure if you would like to be recognized as a Googler here, so I just used that in my post also the reason why I didn’t mentioned it in my post.
I remember all of the events that you mentioned above. The improv comedy show was my favorite!. Let me know if you decide creating a post for this, and I can add my photos as well.
(having joined City Experts a few months before the transition as well), which goes to show the longevity of the program and the connections it can create. Reminds me of how 
PS Was a true honor finally meeting you in person!
also the reason why I didn’t mentioned it in my post.