Introduce Yourself — October 2026

Connections & celebrations
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Hi everyone! :waving_hand: I’m Lily, a Level 8 Local Guide from Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada :canada:

1. Name: Lily

2. Location: Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada

3. What led me to become a Local Guide:
I love discovering new places and sharing the little details that can make someone else’s experience easier or more enjoyable. I started contributing because I realized how much I personally rely on Google Maps when travelling, exploring a new city, or simply looking for somewhere new in my own community. I especially enjoy adding photos, reviewing places, correcting information, and helping businesses and locations that are missing or not well represented on Maps.

4. My favourite thing to explore:
Local hidden gems! I love discovering cafés, restaurants, nature spots, hiking trails, unique experiences, and places that visitors might otherwise miss.

5. Fun fact about me:
I’m originally from Iran and have lived in Canada for many years, so I love discovering and sharing different cultures, food, nature, and experiences. I work fulltime in mental health and substance use field in the afternoons I’m a fitness, zumba and yoga instructor, which means I somehow manage to turn exploring a new place into an excuse to walk even more. :joy:

I’m excited to be part of the Local Guides community, learn from other Guides.

Nice to meet you all! :heart:

7 Likes
82

Welcome to Connect, Lily! Glad to meet you. Balancing your work with fitness, yoga, and Zumba is amazing. Looking forward to your posts and discoveries.

83

Warm welcome to the forum! I look forward to seeing your stories:)

@Nilooparaneh

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Welcome @Nilooparaneh to Google Local Guides Community !

I hope you enjoy your journey as a Google Local Guide.

Greetings from Egypt.

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Hi @Nilooparaneh welcome to Connect! It’s great to have you with us. Your active lifestyle and love for fitness, yoga, and Zumba sound fantastic. Looking forward to following your journey and discoveries!

86

Hi, @Nilooparaneh . Welcome to this global platform and I wish you success in your contributions journey :clap:

87

Welcome to Connect! @Nilooparaneh Just to let you know, I merged your topic to Introduce Yourself — October 2026 where you can meet fellow Local Guides.

88

Hello dear @Bakyt_moldo.
Welcome to the LG community.
Now you are the part of our family :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:
Thanks for sharing, @MoniDi.

Happy mapping :smiling_face_with_three_hearts:
Cheers!

89

Congratulation and glad to know about you @Bakyt_moldo

90

অভিনন্দন :cherry_blossom:

গুগল লোকাল গাইড কানেক্টেড এর যত্রা শুভ হউক🌸

91

Good to Meet you, welcome to the community, happy contributing.

92

See what ABDULKADRI JAITEH posted to Google Maps
Level 7 Local Guide
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dXBq1dQZuFfzg6s99?g_st=ac

4 Likes
93

Hi @abuxone_1 , welcome to Google Local Guides Community !

Wishing you all the best !

94

Halo @abuxone_1 , selamat datang ya Dan salam kenal dengan saya , pemandu lokal asal Indonesia :indonesia:
Sukses ya :+1:t3:

95

Hello @abuxone_1 and welcome to Local Guides Connect.

I want to inform you that I’m merging your post to our monthly feature Introduce Yourself — October 2026

Moreover, Here you can follow the five prompts below and share your introduction In this thread including your photo (in landscape mode).

1.Name:

2.Location:

3.What I love about being a Local Guide:

4.My favorite thing to explore:

5.Fun Fact about me:

A landscape photo of you with a brief description.

I also wanted to recommend to you, check Read first! Connect community guidelines for more information on Connect redesign FAQ: Your questions answered!,
& You can also Visit Community guidelines & you can read also How do I write a topic on Connect? for in-depth resources on the Connect features.

and many more :blush:

96

From the Americas to Europe and Africa: My Journey as a Local Guide Mapping the World with Heart

Sometimes, a map is much more than just tracing a route between two points; it is an open window to empathy, history, and the beautiful diversity of our species. My journey across this planet has led me to cross borders, oceans, and mountain ranges, exploring the geography and the soul of 18 countries that have completely transformed how I see the world: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Brazil, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Morocco, Egypt, France, the Netherlands, Poland, Andorra, and the Vatican.

In every single one of the more than 200 cities I have been fortunate enough to set foot in, I discovered that my true passion is not just traveling, but capturing the essence of humanity to share it with others. I have walked through contrasting climates, from the southern winds of South America to the sun of the North African desert. I have gazed at natural landscapes that take your breath away, majestic architectural masterpieces that defy time, and the vibrant colors of local fashion that dress the daily lives of each culture.

Through gastronomy, I came to understand the flavors that bring families together at the dinner table. Through different languages and accents, I realized that the music of words always seeks the exact same thing: friendship and human connection.

When I discovered the Google Maps volunteer community, I knew instantly it was the perfect channel to give purpose to this vast archive of life experiences. I decided to pour my travel memories and images into the platform, contributing my photography with love and a genuine desire to help others.

Every photo I share—whether it is a quiet train station in Europe, a local eatery in South America, or a historic corner in Africa—is meant to inspire people to lose their fear of exploring. I want the next traveler to find an easier path, to know what to expect, and to feel encouraged to build bridges with the locals of each destination. Having recently reached Level 8, I see this milestone not as a finish line, but as the fuel to keep proving that, despite the distances, humanity always finds a way to connect.

1 Like
97

Hello @Marla and welcome to Local Guides Connect.

I want to inform you that I’m merging your post to our monthly feature Introduce Yourself — October 2026

Moreover, Here you can follow the five prompts below and share your introduction In this thread including your photo (in landscape mode).

1.Name:

2.Location:

3.What I love about being a Local Guide:

4.My favorite thing to explore:

5.Fun Fact about me:

A landscape photo of you with a brief description.

I also wanted to recommend to you, check Read first! Connect community guidelines for more information on Connect redesign FAQ: Your questions answered!,
& You can also Visit Community guidelines & you can read also How do I write a topic on Connect? for in-depth resources on the Connect features.

and many more :blush:

98

私は日本で飲食店を26店舗、養鶏、卸事業をしているグループにいます。

私はグループの中で飲食店に食材を卸している会社の代表取締役をしています。

食材の仕入れをしている関係で日本全国の有名な飲食店の知識があります。

私は年間で500軒ほど飲食店で食事をするので飲食のことであれば何でも聞いてください。

知的好奇心ぐ強く、人生全てが勉強だと思っているので、様々な仕事をしている方と知り合いたいです。

気軽にお声掛けください。

よろしくお願いします。

3 Likes
99

Halo @konyamoyamada , selamat datang di komunitas ini. Saya mau izin kenalan boleh ya,
Saya Titik lokal guide dari Indonesia :indonesia:
Kamu semangat terus ya :+1:t3:

100

Hello @konyamoyamada and welcome to Local Guides Connect.

I want to inform you that I’m merging your post to our monthly feature Introduce Yourself — October 2026

Moreover, Here you can follow the five prompts below and share your introduction In this thread including your photo (in landscape mode).

1.Name:

2.Location:

3.What I love about being a Local Guide:

4.My favorite thing to explore:

5.Fun Fact about me:

A landscape photo of you with a brief description.

I also wanted to recommend to you, check Read first! Connect community guidelines for more information on Connect redesign FAQ: Your questions answered!,
& You can also Visit Community guidelines & you can read also How do I write a topic on Connect? for in-depth resources on the Connect features.

and many more :blush: