Impact of COVID-19 on my Connect Live 2020 Application?

Hello fellow Local Guides, I wanted to share with you my experience (a local story) with applying to join you at Connect Live 2020.

I had just left for a long overseas trip at the time when Connect Live 2020 was first announced and I was still overseas when Applications for the event officially opened. While overseas I gave some thought to my application post and Maps List and although of the difficulties, I created an on-the-run video that while being rough, I thought I’d keep as an emergency. Actually I was on ship on the open seas at the bottom of the world at the time (see Captain James Cook’s Five Fingers) and the quality of the video was sad to say the least!! But I kept it as a security measure (I would have used it as a last resort). I wasn’t concerned as I thought that I would have time when I got home. I also prepared a checklist of important details that I needed to follow regarding my application. This checklist summarized things to do and included important details like make sure to set the Video to “public” or “unlisted,” but not to “private.” Throughout all this I continued actively reading, engaging and contributing where I could on Connect and again, felt fairly confident that I would be able make it all happen on my return from overseas in mid-March. But then things really changed for the worse!

Already facing less time to prepare my final application, on returning home I faced a fast escalating Coronovirus epidemic/pandemic. I was lucky to have got back in before the Government locked the borders. However, I was required to self isolate and before this ended we went into full lockdown. Having just returned from a long overseas trip my pantry was empty and I was left with only two rolls toilet paper - I quickly found myself in survival mode. My sister kindly braved the chaotic shopping crowds on my behalf but found the supermarket shelves cleaned right out of useful food items and toilet paper impossible to find because of the panic buying by the general population that was by now in full pandemic-panic-mode. I could only watch all that was happening out there in “the real world” on my TV screen. It was like an unbelievable dream. My sister delivered what she could find but these were mainly disinfectants and cleaning products as she said it was important that clean things like my suitcase. Sadly, because I was in isolation I wasn’t allowed to greet her so she dropped these items in the foyer and left.

Caption: Shopping left in the foyer by @AdamGT 's sister

The situation limited my ability to prepare my final application however I proceeded as best I could. In the end, after several edits, I was fairly happy with my application post but not so happy with my last minute rushed List (Milford Sound: 8th Wonder of the World) and video, done in house rather than outside in some amazing location. There were problems with creating the List and from this it is apparent that Google still has some work on the creation of Lists. So while happy with my post I found myself not 100% happy with my last minute List and Video however by now it was too late to do much about this so I proceeded with what I had. My checklist mentioned above proved very useful during the critical last hour and I recommend such a checklist to you all in future similar situations.

I then encountered the need to wait for Youtube to process the editing of my video, editing aimed to cut my video down to 1:00 minute. While waiting for the Youtube editing I worked furiously through many other LG’s application posts such as this one that were incorrectly posted in the Photography rather than the Local Stories topic and advised as many of the LGs as I could about their mistake so that they might have some chance to correct this before the clock beat them.

At the very end I found myself at the busiest time to submit an application, the system was slow because of the volume of last minute applications but still promising. I was increasingly concerned and sitting on the edge of my seat when I completed the online application form and pressed the submit button. My eyes were fixated on the clock as I watched my application form go into the ether. At precisely the application closing time (8:00 pm GMT) I thought I saw a pop-up thanking me for submitting my Connect Live 2020 application but as I was so tired and exhausted I wasn’t sure if I was dreaming or if my eyes were deceiving me.

Then at 6:59 am local time and 7:59 pm GMT, just one minute before the doors closed, I received the Google email (see image above) thanking me for my application. I’m sure that my application would have been among the very last if not the last one through the door. I then resumed working furiously through many other LG’s application posts that were incorrectly posted in the Photography rather than the Local Stories topic thinking that perhaps they might still be able to correct this mistake.

I accept that it is what it is but wanted to describe how I found that the COVID-19 pandemic created a difficult time for applying for this year’s Connect Live event. Also, as a topic for discussion here on Connect, I wondered if and how COVID-19 had impacted on anyone else’s Connect Live 2020 application and look forward to hearing about it.

Wishing all the best, stay safe and well.

PS: Thank you for any concerns that you might have but I went out on Saturday and managed to find some toilet paper.

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Wow @AdamGT I relieved finally you successful submit your application ,best of luck

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Thank you @Nyainurjanah . It was a testing experience and I hope yours was not so stressful!

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Yeah don’t worries @AdamGT I’m fun .

Stay safe for you ?

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I know and empathize with with you went thru @AdamGT I am home in self Isolation as well and hurriedly recorded my video in the Garage while it was raining. I had a whole couple of hours to spare. Good to you my friend.

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Hi Adam!

I made about same mistake in posting under photography rather than local stories. I love how you described your experience right there :+1:t2: Least you were able to submit the application despite the challenges.

Cheers

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Hi @TerryPG

Yes creating your video when self-isolating is challenging. As I mentioned in my post, I created a safety blanket so to speak but this safety video was created on the open and then choppy seas. It was very windy and noisy. In the end I settled for the video created while in isolation; it wasn’t amazing but at least you could hear my voice!

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Hi @Nuhuu

I’m sorry to hear that and even more so that I didn’t come across your post. As I mentioned in my post, I found many who made this mistake and while time consuming and while I was busy trying to get my own application in, I tried to save as many of these fellow LGs as I could. I was happy that I managed to save some! This is where my simple idea of creating a checklist can be useful. An entry in your checklist like “Post in Local Stories” might be a a useful trigger when you are under the pump submitting your application. I found my checklist extremely useful at the last minute with for example reminders to set the video to Public or Unlisted and believe me I submitted my application within the last couple of minutes with really only seconds to spare - there was no time to go back and read the announcement posts to check on submission details!!!

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that’s really kind of you to help other’s applications while struggling with your own. Wishing you the best for Connect Live2020!!

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*stay strong brother @AdamGT *

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Hi @AdamGT , your post is excellent, I’m sure that you will participate in CL 2020!

I’m doubt about my application, because although I’ve sent it on time, I didn’t receive an email from Google.

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That’s really supportive of you helping out. I hope you do get a spot to attend this years’ in return for your kindness. Moreover these application are much a bunch of checklists and it’s really important to pay attention to details.

I was once invited to register for Google Coding (SEA/ML) Winter Camp, during application I realized I made an error on attaching my CV link because I attached a link that can’t be accessed by a third party, I lost my spot from checklist already.

I always have a checklist note since then.

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Thank you @Kathiasb . But don’t not lose hope and even if we don’t make it in 2020 there will be another opportunity in 2021 so now that the application date has passed we now need to focus on doing what we enjoy about being a Local Guide. Sadly this virulent COVID-19 has put a spanner in the works and has curtailed our activities, it certainly has in my case, so my hope that this will soon pass. In the meantime I hope that Google can improve the situation regarding contribution approval mentioned in the post Temporary product changes in Google Maps, as then at least we could work with the reviews and photos in hand.

Stay safe and well.

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Thank you @Nuhuu . It was very sad to see so many LGs (many new and inexperienced on Connect) making the mistake of posting their application post in the wrong topic and I tried reaching out to many of them. I’ve since made the suggestion in the Idea Exchange that a Special Connect Live Topic should be set up each year for this. I’m sorry to hear about your previous registration error but happy that you agree about creating even a simple checklist.

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Fingers crossed you will be selected for the event! :slightly_smiling_face: What a story for your application, weil deserved to go!

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Great that you enjoyed the story about my journey @JuliaGulia82 and hope that we are both selected for the event.

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Hello @AdamGT

I applyed for the first time, so I don’t know if all was OK. I sent it before the limit, and in France we already were in quarantine. It was impossible to turn a video outside. I made it with my own photos and my favorite Movie Maker and public Youtube. (La Malmaison)

No problem with the map (Napoleon’s homes) and my contribution.

I just broke my arm in February. We are in quarantine since the begining of march.

Usualy I live alone in my little house with a garden near Paris. But, as I was injured, a young friend (one of my former pupils) came to live with me. Her little brother joined us. She works with internet, and so her brother.

I made masks in washable fabrics for the neighbors. It’s practical, we throw them out the windows! The weather is fine, we can go out to the garden despite the cold.

We can survive ! No problem !

;

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Hi @AdamGT thank you so much for your good words. I read the post that you mentioned, and maybe I still have a chance to participate in CN 2020, let’s wait. And in the meantime I’ll take your advice and continue to contribute to Google Maps, putting my reviews of the places that I’ve been.

Best wishes! and stay safe!

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Thanks for the concern @AdamGT

I guess they say we learn from our mistakes which I’ve since done. Always check listing now!

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Thank you @Onkar_Pandhare . I did what I know you and other LGs would do if I made that mistake and you came across my post and by the way, this is why I suggested that we need a Special Connect Live Topic. I hope to see you at CL2020.

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