One of the main drivers for my starting up and ongoing usage of Google Maps and Local Guides is my love for discovery and my love for the city I live in and come from, Columbia, South Carolina. Albeit, Columbia (and South Carolina as a whole for the matter) isn’t a place most people from around the world would even consider to want to visit, out of enthusiasm or wander. With good reason I must admit, because there just aren’t many, if any, people that share their personal experience of Columbia, of South Carolina. I am a proud member of the Couchsurfing and have had a great experience, Couchsurfing is a global community of 14 million people in more than 200,000 cities who share their life, their world, their journey. Couchsurfing connects travelers with a global network of people willing to share in profound and meaningful ways, making travel a truly social experience (https://www.couchsurfing.com/about/about-us/). I have been hosting people from all across the globe for a year so far, most of them do not come here just for the state, but just as passersby on their own adventure. With the opportunity I have through Couchsurfing and Google Maps, I show them what Columbia is all about through its people, businesses, events, nature and culture. They are found surprised with a good time and leave with a better understanding and appreciation of my city, evidence of this can be found on my Couchsurfing profile where people that have stayed with me write reviews (https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/edgar-olvera). Not only do travelers get to see and do what Columbia has to offer, but people who have lived here longer than myself as well. My own friends, family, and coworkers are astonished to discover places and events Columbia has thanks to its local community. My curious and adventurous spirit has been able to find the hidden value and story of anywhere I go, and Google Maps and Local Guides has been THE TOOL I’ve used to help me with all this along the way by being able to uncover things new in Columbia and a medium in which I can share my experiences, truly I’m grateful. As one of my inspirations and motivators Anthony Bourdain once said: “If I’m an advocate for anything, it’s to move. As far as you can, as much as you can. Across the ocean, or simply across the river. The extent to which you can walk in someone else’s shoes or at least eat their food, it’s a plus for everybody. Open your mind, get up off the couch, move.” My goal is to help people find an appreciation and love for one’s own place by showing people my appreciation and love of my own city, Columbia, because I believe it makes us better people, and in turn, it makes a better world. Thank you Google 
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