I really think life is better with Local Guide Program and Google Map. I take pride in being part of this. It has been a glue that binds a lot of great things(person and community) together.
The first time I learned about this program I thought the idea was cool. It was like a power(responsibility too) to influence others about places. I really enjoys telling others how I feel about places I visited. I also love writing and taking pictures so this is perfect for me. Before I was only using Google Map for navigation, now I also use it to plan trips and assess places using other local reviews and photos. I won’t go to a new place without checking it on the map first or I would not go to the next stop without making a review of where I am.
But I realized that it was more than cool. It was seriously a great thing, to build this library of information from people on the ground sharing relevant information and experiences about places they know (some close to their hearts) and visited. As a result we help one another to find the places we need. It has been a platform too in promoting community enterprises and local businesses.
I really like the term local guide because it empowers ordinary people like me to feature places that usually don’t get the attention. Also because I am passionate about our roots and history I like that it has been a stage to promote culture and local stories.
Local Guide Program gives free, open and fun space to share experiences not limited to a particular perspective. Every local guide can validate and invalidate another’s word about a certain place thus giving one a broad look at the subject and equipping him/her to mindfully decide.
More than the statistics of views and reactions we get as local guides, more than the recognition Google gives to our contributions. More is in fulfillment when we help our local friends and build friendships along the way.
Local Guide Program has been a glue that binds helping people across the globe to share and learn from one another. It is the glue that holds local guides together to create this wonderful picture that makes life more beautiful.