Hello, attending Connect Live 2018 Summit was the best thing ever happened to me from Durban, South Africa to San Francisco, California, were I have met other top local guides from around the world and learnt a lot, this changed the way I see things and how I react to what I see around me. Learning and adapting to new conditions is what I do to help me cope with a lot of situations as a local guide.
I wanted to share how my trip was from the day I was confirmed to attend the summit until the last day I returned home from the summit. Securing of visa and things to consider if you are going to use a flight to travel, especially when you are traveling a long distance trip, I must say that I was the only person who traveled the longest distance to attend the summit.
I hope you enjoyed the video!
For those who will be attending Connect Live 2019, I would like to share with them this list of things to consider from the day you are confirmed to attend the summit, and act as soon as possible to avoid unnecessary issues which can be prevented by doing things in time, and ask for help where required from this platform, ask a question where you do not understand something!
Things I learnt preparing for the trip and what I benefited at the summit there which others can expect.
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How to secure a visa
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Thinks to take into account when you will be traveling on a plane
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Things to do when you meet other local guides
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Connect with other local guides
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Be active and participate during classes
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Ask questions
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Learn while having fun
Thank you Google Local Guide and the whole Local Guide Team for selecting me to attend this summit, I am sure others will benefit from the information I acquired from attending.
I will keep being a top local guide, help others on Connect, in my local community and contribute with quality legit information on Google Map, to improve accessibility for all world wide.
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@Raphael-Mahumane
This is so insightful, thank you very much for sharing these tips.
I really found it very useful
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@Raphael-Mahumane Thank you for your video. 
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Love your recap and tips, @Raphael-Mahumane !
I enjoyed meeting you at last year’s event! I can’t believe how long some of the attendees’ journeys took (distance). I hope to see you again at this year’s event.
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@JordanSB I hope to meet you again, it was really a long trip, imagine all this for the first time on a plane… I just had to be strong and do it!
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Thanks for sharing with us your experience. It is so nice to see the person who attended such event last year. 
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Hello @Raphael-Mahumane wonderful recap u mentioned every step in your video… Thank you for sharing with us…
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Thanks @Natalia_20-12 that is what I wanted to convey, the exposure is more important even if it is from a video, now you have all the things you might need to go trough if you get selected, and how it feels to be on the air!
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@NirmalTeja I am happy you liked it, I hope you can imagine your self there just by watching the video!!!
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Hi @Raphael-Mahumane , thank you for sharing these useful insights and just finished to watch your video: it’s amazing. What a beautiful experience, congratulations.
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Hi @Raphael-Mahumane
I can see you truly enjoyed your trip last year and i wish you good luck this year. I really appreciate your tips and sense of humor.
Thanks for sharing!!!
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I am happy to hear that you enjoyed it @Giuseppe75 , I hope it will plant a seed in your heart to long for being selected and if possible you will be able to do the same to others by sharing yours too. Thank you.
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Thank you for your kind words @Stanucious , I wish you good luck too, thanks!!!
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Indeed it was like one is with you throughout the whole trip. The experience was amazing, as seen through your lens. Congratulations and thank you for sharing.
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Hi @Raphael-Mahumane
Your trip looked amazing! Are you applying again this year and we’re you the only South African attending?
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Hi @MagdaRautenbach yes I was the only one from the whole country who attended last year, and I had applied again for this year, I hope others will get selected also, it is boring when you are traveling alone such a long distance, but I loved it and enjoyed everything!!!
Thanks for that @ChandraBhanu !!!
I am glad you enjoyed every recording @Educa19_SA !!!
@Raphael-Mahumane
Your post is so inspiring I am your neighbor just across the great crocodile infested Limpopo river. That’s in Zimbabwe.
When I saw the invitation to apply for connect live 2019 at the beginning of the year.I actually ignored it and said to myself that was a joke would Google surely go to the extent of paying for my visa then the long trip to San Francisco where you might inter change flights.
But your story shows it can be done. Thanks for being an inspiration.
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