Connect Moderators are Local Guides just like you and me. They apply the knowledge they’ve gained as active members of our community to moderate Connect and help improve the experience for everyone. You may see them welcoming newcomers, explaining the program, answering questions, and sharing their knowledge with others.
Each month, we share some personal insights from one of our amazing Connect Moderators. This month, meet Silvina ( @Silvi ). Silvina lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and speaks Spanish and English.
Name: Silvina Colodro
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
What I love about being a Local Guide: I like to keep Google Maps updated and help people find what they need: from a great pizza place to a homeopathic vet. We have the perfect tool to be helpful in many ways, [and] we need to be conscious of it.
I love to interact with Local Guides [from] around the world on Connect. Last year, due to the pandemic, I was lucky to hang out with many of them, thanks to the virtual meet-ups. Now, we know each other better, and we want to meet in person one day. Last but not least, Connect is the perfect place to tell stories about my travels and to share about my favorite food; writing is one of the things I enjoy most in life.
Why I’m a Connect Moderator: I like to welcome [the new members] as a way to say, “Hey, we’re here, we’re friendly,” and help others as they helped me at the beginning when I was pretty lost.
My favorite things to explore: New cities, [especially] those that are a mix of modern and old. I don’t drive, so I use public transportation in every place to feel like a local in a way.
Also, I like to go to shopping malls (guilty as charged!), [and] spend the whole day at the biggest ones.
My favorite type of contribution(s) to make on Google Maps: Adding new places, definitely. I’ve made my own crusade of it. I have a photographic memory [which I use] to detect a new business in my area to add. It’s funny because sometimes I see a new business that’s being set up but isn’t open yet, and I [would] walk in front of that place every day to check if it’s open and I can add it.
Languages I read/speak/write fluently: Spanish is my native language, and I’m improving my English skills every day.
Places I’d like to visit: I learned about so many beautiful places during the virtual meet-ups I attended last year that I’m going to need more than one lifetime to visit each one. On my list are places like Amalfi Coast (Italy), Tulum (Mexico), Hawaii, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Fun facts about me: My happy place is Disneyland in California, where I enjoy riding all the roller-coasters. I don’t like selfies; I took more selfies as a Local Guide than in my whole life. I don’t like alcoholic drinks, but diet coke is my favorite. Seriously, sometimes I drink it in my breakfast! I love white chocolate, even if it’s not real chocolate. I have two cats, and I talk to them all the time, [even though] one of them is deaf.
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know @Silvi . Say hi or ask her a question below as she has a lot to share about Google Maps and Connect.
Interested in becoming a Connect Moderator? Learn more here.
Want to learn about other Connect Moderators?
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Learn more about Emeka in March 2020
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and, well, I have a good photographic memory too. I will always remember a face, but not the name of a person (sometimes this is embarrassing)
.