In this post, I am going to write about one of the prompts What does the Local Guides program mean to you? to apply for Google’s Connect Live 2020 program.
Hi, Namaste. My name is Rashmi Sharma and I am google’s local guide from Delhi, India. I am at level seven and it just feels wonderful to be a contributor and a giver. And, yes! the program means the world to me, read why!
As I wrote the title, last year on 5th March, I received the email which said I can apply for the program CL19, and, I applied. I was not expecting anything huge, but this mail on a random morning(4 June) just made that day one of the most memorable days of my life. I was in when thousands applied. Since then, my life has been revolving around the dream of meeting 200 + 100 more humans like me. The contributors, the changemakers, the travellers, the observers, the hard workers and those who are consistent! I have been a contributor ever since I remember, but I have contributed to places that are only in India. Connect live 2019 would have opened doors to see a different world altogether which was never seen or experienced by me. This was going to be the BIGGEST event of my LIFE!
The first VISA application got rejected. Since the program meant so much to me, I reapplied. The second VISA got declined. I applied for the third time. The visa got declined and the deadline to submit the VISA and the conformation was gone. It was August 30 and my dreams were shattered. I could not participate in CL19.
Nonetheless, I continued to contribute. I have been very active in contributing to google maps. I have been using appropriate hashtags, making sure I (as a local guide) am read, seen, heard and acknowledged on all the social media platforms. I have been making sure I use all the social media platforms to connect with my travel experiences, connect with me as google’s local guide, connect with local guides from all over the world. In this journey, I have answered a lot of questions, put a lot of pictures, gave a lot of detailed reviews and did a lot of corrections. I answered all the suggestions that google threw on me. I was unstoppable just to make sure I don’t lose hope to be part of the Connect Live 2020 program.
This year, this program is even more special to me. CL2020 program will let me talk about my country, make others and the Googler’s understand the common pain areas of India, what digital India lacks, what it needs, how Google can contribute in India, towards digitization, how I as a local guide from India can act as a bridge and do the needful. I have understood a lot about Indian cities, especially tier 3 and this was only possible as I went on an 8000 km long, 15 days train journey, covering 12 cities of 10 states of India and visiting places and meeting new people. This has levelled me up by earning points and badges, and I see those taking shape.
To conclude, this year, the zeal and enthusiasm and expectations are more than ever to meet new people, crossing boundaries, experiencing new events and meeting some of the most beautiful people from all over the world.
Always yours,
Rashmi Sharma
Read more about me here: https://www.localguidesconnect.com/t5/user/viewprofilepage/user-id/891959
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