From the distant lands of Western Australia originally from New Zealand comes a #localguide named @DavidTito who went through some trials on the lead up to #localguidesconnect traveling away from home and getting sick is the worst nightmare of anyone. Fortunately one of his mates got him to the doctor and he got better and was able to join the fun of Connect Live. Life is about trials and its not about what gets thrown at you, its about what you do in response. It would have been so easy for David to give up and go home to safety but no, he had courage and he saw it through and every time I saw him had the biggest grin on his face. Glad you saw it through mate and happy to provide encouraging words and a little push when you needed it to get you going and an encouraging word here and there. You’re a good one mate.
@PaulPavlinovich I’m so very happy to be sharing this very moment together and talk about it. Its many thanks to a most thoughtful person who gave me courage and strength and trust to build on and Id like to begin my ordeal like this
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Day 1 the 10th November arrive and reach my Hotel fine until I decided to have an appetite because the next thing that came for me was food poisoning.
My first night I checked into my Hotel The Days Inn by Wyndham San Francisco International Airport W I decide to go across the road there was a local pizza bar close by called Zorba’s Pizza & Pasta do my first Google maps review in San Francisco why not… that evening during midnight hours my stomach started turning badly…. At that point, I knew I was destined for endless pain and getting help was far and between due to my symptoms. I was facing my last hours of check out time 11:00 am SF timezone, I knew I had to Hola for uber and make a break for it, driver can you get me to (Cal Train) please ”sure” my next stop is at an Airbnb 1053 Eugene Ave San Jose bearing’ 1.5 to 2 hours south of SF. The pain was excruciating like a gunshot to the stomach… I felt loss and shame as I had promises local Guides in great faith to be on-site my priority… But I didn’t have the strength to face it. Day 3 November 12th I managed to make contact with @Paulpav, I Was so relieved in conscious. A Local guide savvier I was willing to put my life trust into. It was my instinct to trust him, And I did. He stepped out of being a Local Guide and become a Local hero, every piece of advice, help, hang in there, your in safe hands, rehashing, you need water, how you feeling, where getting you to a hospital it’s not far, @user_not_found Knows what’s going on she’s going to make sure you get right help,
All I could think is sorry. It was because of Paulpav**,** who was there voicing me through every little step of where I needed to go, he got to me at hospital explain it in detail in which I would see it and it was, he sore me through made sure I was ok, he was checking in on me through consistently reassuring my awful ordeal. Making sure I could get a chance to make it with everyone at Google,
I think Paulpav should receive some sort of Local Guide Emergency attendance Badge to some description.
Awwww. You’re a great guy, Paul. He’s so lucky to have a friend in you. David is such a top bloke - generous and kind and so helpful. Glad you’ve got the true Aussie spirit, David… You must have felt like you were in woop woop without anyone you knew. You’re such a true Blue Aussie with the right fighting spirit. Good onya mate. Head over to the Gold Coast - there’s always a bed for you and your family. And I promise we won’t have pizza!
Its what needed doing @DavidTito Strayans don’t leave a mate down to fend for themselves, what needs doing gets done.
I was really happy to find you that morning and start the journey that was needed.
I was so glad that you recovered and were able to take your part in the rest of the event. Googler @brittym was very patient with me when I ran the gauntlet of security and hunted her down and explained what was wrong even though she was minutes from launch on her biggest event of the year and also helped you on your way to recovery with some encouraging words.
From the symptoms it sounded like Novovirus which people often pick up traveling.
Hopefully you’ll get to go again in 2020 and this time you’ll get to come to the pre event meetups that you missed this year. I remember you were worried people would be mad at you, absolutely the opposite mate just concerned.
Thank you for sharing this story @PaulPavlinovich and I am very sorry to hear you were in such a bad state @DavidTito . We had, of course, no idea that this was all happening. But even from the other side of the pond (Europe), we noticed that you were missing at the opening party and wondered why you were not there.
There is nothing worse than being alone in a hotel room and so sick you think you may die. In many years of business travel, it has happened to me twice and reading this story my temperature was rising again simply from the dark memories.
@PaulPavlinovich “The Gandalf” of local guides, no one in the party should left behind. Great to meet you at connect mate. And thanks for sharing this story with us. Personally i was there and there was so many people who were worried for @DavidTito and getting updates from you only.
Hi @PaulPavlinovich - Thanks for stepping in to help David where needed, and I’m glad I could help, too. @DavidTito , it’s true, every time I saw you, you had the biggest smile on your face, and I’m glad you didn’t turn right around and go home even though you had to miss the Welcome Reception. Instead, you jumped right in on Wednesday and made the most of the remaining programming! We are so glad you both were able to join us. Local Guides are friends looking after friends!
@DavidTito does have the most amazing smile doesn’t he @brittym it is quite infections - when he’s having fun everyone around him does too
Thanks for the positive comments everyone. We all look after each other, that’s what Local Guides is about. Life gave me an opportunity to do something good for a mate and I was glad to help. One day maybe I’ll need that help!
@PaulPavlinovich I was so happy to finally see you in person, I felt a sudden relief of strain and felt that light in the tunnel grow upon me and felt the moment of success thanks to you
@brittym when @PaulPavlinovich had mentioned to me that he had informed you about my situation, I couldn’t believe it, I was in the hands of the greatest people in the world… and I was… at that point I truly felt that I was really there and I had made it. I have to say thank you again and I will treasure that moment for the rest of my life
@JeroenM It took me a while and a good friend to say hay should we broadcast this on connect, for me I felt in bad ways. But I had good encouragement from @PaulPavlinovich and @brittym was delighted to see our story on connect plus I had @KarenVChin in Telegram and not to mention the 200 local guides sharing their concerns on Telegram which I found out later, I just couldn’t belive it, they were all thinking about me, I was oh my gosh
@GaganMishra Thank you, Yes I know everyone was so concerned about me, I couldn’t believe when I found out, almost brought me to tears, I was like oh my gosh, and now I feel closer than ever before. I am really moved by the whole situation. and I’m thank full for your comment here
