I am a Google Maps user since a long time ago, but I am still new in Local Guides program. I started to share review on Google Maps in then end of 2018. How great Google Maps is! Now I could share my experience, especially culinary (since I am a Foodie) not only in my country, but also all around the world. Then my review could be read, my photo could be seen, my video could be watched, and the other contribution on Google Maps could help billion people around the world.
After that, I also started to discover Local Guides program, share story on Connect, and enjoy all of them. Especially since joining Connect, I fall in love with it. Connect is just like an exclusive place to share my great experience in detail to fellow Local Guides. Not only sharing, I also love to read and learn new things from other Local Guides’ post, interacting with each other, gaining a lot of new knowledge. Sometimes, I get a request from other Local Guides to post about some topic related to culinary. Because of that, I am so motivated to keep sharing and sharing, especially in this 2020, my two posts on Connect became Friday Favorites on the first and last week of January 2020.
The first one is about Noodle - a Good Companion on a Cold Day
The second one is about 13.5 Hours in The Happiest Place on Earth
In 2019, I got an amazing opportunity to attend Connect Live 2019 in San Jose, California . This was my first time attending a global event, meeting another 199 Local Guides from 64 countries, meeting Google Moderators and Googlers, making an international connection and friendship with them, and learn a lot of new things. During this four days event of Connect Live 2019, it feels like “studying” overseas experience for me. We attended program held by Google, socializing with international friends in English, learning new culture and diversity.
This was also my first time attending Local Guides Clean The World meetup held by @ErmesT and @KarenVChin at Children’s Discovery Museum of San Jose . What a nice meetup that is not only focusing on having fun, but also caring about our earth by working together to clean our environment. Good job, Guys!
Two months after Connect Live 2019, I had a trip to Singapore . When planning the trip, I asked Singaporean Local Guides @CrystalKoh about the online public transportation there. Then, we planned to meet each other in Singapore. Crystal also asked me to join Singapore Local Guides meetup, but unfortunately the time did not match. Hopefully someday I could join Local Guides meetup in another country, or hosting a joint-country Local Guides meetup 
What a nice meetup that I had with her! We had late night dimsum dinner on a Saturday night until midnight together with my sister and Crystal’s friend, too. Thanks to Local Guides program, I could make new friend with fellow Local Guides from different countries.
You’re amazing. I also felt that Connect Live was a sort of cross-cultural learning experience, and I really enjoyed it. It’s amazing to know that from now on, wherever I go, I have a friend willing to accompany and guide me 
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