We had the second edition of our Voices of the Map meetup series, and this time felt like old friends catching up. We had a couple of familiar faces and a couple of new faces.
The purpose of this meetup series is to promote active participation on Google Maps while bringing local guides together to connect on their various experiences.
This month’s meetup was filled with stories from @Aslam_hossain, @fayayolla, @TravelClever, @Laurent, and myself with other local guides who hoped to join. I enjoyed hearing about Laurent’s recent visit to the United States Embassy in Lome, the capital of Togo. He explained that the embassy frequently offers sessions for individuals to learn how to speak English as well as hold cultural events. I think that is an awesome initiative, and they are often free of charge!
For both Faya and TravelClever (Khushbu), this was their first meetup attended and it’s always a joy when I hear testimonials like these. What has become a norm for some of us who have been passionate local guides for years, these moments serve as a reminder of the reasons we joined the program in the first place. Faya is so interesting as he is from Guinea but lives in India, and shared stories of how he is doing his part by putting Guinea on the map in India!
Khushbu spoke joyfully about a hidden gem she visited in Kazakhstan called the Almaty City. She described that the city has Islamic and Russian roots and while it is located in central Asia, the metropolis gives a European vibe and is quite budget-friendly.
I also shared my story of places I visted on a recent trip from Owerri, Imo State to Umuahia, Abia State in Nigeria. I explored some rural areas of Mbaise and Obowo along the way and enjoyed a nice rest in a quiet hotel.
I thoroughly enjoyed the connections shared during this meetup, and I thank you all for joining us and for reading this recap. I looking forward to seeing more faces in future meetups!
Missed this month’s meetup? Join us next month on Saturday, August 30th, and save the date for future meetups! Voices of the Map Series
I hope this meet-up gave you the encouragement to join many more in the future!