Hey there! My name is Pia and I’m from the beautiful Germany!
I don’t remember when I joined Google Maps as a local guide, it’s been quite a while since I joined and - what can I say, it made me to a different person.
I was a rather insecure introverted person, every time I visited a new place I checked the internet before. I did this not to see if the food was good, but rather so that I could avoid unpleasant situations. In the restaurant, for example, I wasn’t confident to ask questions, like if i could pay with a card. For most people this might sound ridiculous, but for me it was quite a challenge. I also looked at Google Maps before I drove to places to see what the parking situation was like, so that I could avoid the situation that I couldn’t find a parking space and then have to search there - without any information.
All this was difficult for me and I was very happy to have Google Maps. But at some point I came to the point that there was no picture available for the exact location or no meaningful review was written, and so I came up with the idea of sharing my knowledge with others who might be in a similar situation. And so it went from visits in foreign supermarkets, to new cities, to road trips with friends, until I finally decided spontaneously to make a trip to Switzerland, Austria and Italy alone last year. Even now you have to go beyond your borders, but the whole thing would have been unthinkable at that time. Today my mobile phone is always with me, to share pictures of the new places and information with people on Google Maps, to give these people the security they need when they are in a similar situation, or simply to pass on interesting information.
This summer I’m going on a road trip to Yellowstone and through Canada for two months - alone! I stay with strangers in hostels and have to overcome every hurdle, and this will be a major challenge because it’s not in my comfort zone, but as a local guide I am never really alone because I can share all my experiences, tips and tricks, and pictures of the beautiful places with the community.
I feel like I’m doing something good and helping people. Be it to report a wheelchair accessible entrance or that the parking fees have been raised. It’s just good to be able to give something back after having received so much and still receiving it from Google Maps. And that’s the reason why I love sharing my different experiences, information’s and mostly pictures with the community.
As a local guide, I have literally become a new person!
