“The art of life is sensation.” This movie quote looped in my head on my journey from Port Harcourt, Nigeria to San Francisco, United States.
During my time in California, I connected with a fellow local guide who aided in my rediscovery of the term “alchemy”. Alchemy – in simple terms – is an extraordinary feeling and/or experience that cannot be explained (often times between two or more individuals who share the same experience).
It is not a coincidence that both the quote and this word came within the same period: Connect Live 2019. Words cannot do justice to the experience I had and the sensations I felt, but I will share my perspective. My primary goal for this conference was to deeply connect with other local guides and Googlers.
Deep Connection
When I say deep connection, I mean connecting beyond the surface level. I already knew that those selected to attend Connect Live were 200 of some of the most passionate and well-rounded local guides around the world, so my personal goal was not to prove why I deserved to be there.
I wanted to understand the mindset and behaviours of others who share a similar passion as mine and what keeps them going. In my short time and while soaking every organized chaotic moment, I learned the following about the local guide program, myself, and the world:
— Competition keeps the world sane and we cannot deny this. Whether it’s competition with others or competition with ourselves, but our driving force is doing and being better.
— You can be in the same room as another person and have completely different experiences. I may not have spoken to as many attendees as others may have, but I observed everything – people’s emotions, expressions, non-verbal languages, even how people in different countries clapped. I may not remember the names of individuals, but I can remember how one lady felt comfortable sitting on the floor eating while others around her sat on the couch; or how some of the African local guides bonded in a circle on the green chairs while waiting for the office hours with Googlers.
— Identity can never be fully answered with just one question. Asking someone where they are from is never enough. Where an individual is from may be different from where he or she lives and could be different from where he or she feels connected and is devoted to.
— Google thrives on reality. I have worked with many companies on marketing and branding. I have experienced and engaged with the staff of numerous global and multinational companies as well as local ones. I have never felt as understood as I did during this conference – with the Google team present. When what is understood does not need to be explained, you know you are at the right place and with the right people. The Google team truly feels what we feel and understands what we want, but I learned that this conference was more about learning how to deliver what we both feel in a way that we as consumers and local guides expect and will be satisfied with.
Gratitude
— Google media team (during Connect Live 2019). I love authenticity. I love honesty. I love taking risks. I love ambition and dedication. I love people who are driven for the sake of keeping their souls alive and that they have found a “match” in their passion and career. Each member of this team illustrates all that I have described. I didn’t interact personally with all, but those I interacted with are definitely special human beings.
— Local Guides Socks. For many people, this was more than a perk. You have to ask yourself, why were local guides who were selected to attend Connect Live were still complaining about the “basic” perk as receiving socks? I think for most, receiving this was a tangible sense of belonging to the local guides community.
— @brittym and @TraciC . I heard so much about you both prior to the conference and was relieved, when I got there, to know that your personalities are not a façade. You both are beautiful souls, and I could feel your personalities in the different touches of the conference. It’s almost like you both asked each other “how would I feel if I was a local guide attending this conference?”. You ladies thought about every single moment of the conference and speaking on behalf of others, I can tell you that it was noticed and deeply appreciated. I also think you both balance each other out, so I hope you work together for a long time.
— @KarenVChin. I knew long before we would get a long as we were kindred spirits, and I was not wrong. Any person that can make others feel comfortable enough to open themselves up has a true power within, and I am happy you’re channeling that power positively in the local guide community. I will always look out for and support you as you have subconsciously done with me. Thank you.
— @PaulPavlinovich. You get me in the strangest ways and I am impressed by your response to some of the outrageous things I say but not surprised. Though we didn’t interact much, I really only needed some exchange of words with you to know that.
— Google Pixel 3. I nearly teared up when this was announced. The day I was traveling, I was anxious and stressed out, because my phone screen had cracked and I was contemplating whether to buy a new phone just for the conference. I do not get stressed out much, so I could not understand why it was so important to me to have a functioning phone and camera for this conference. I did not have time buy a new phone as I left work early to embark on a 2-hour high-security drive to another city where I would take my international flight, so I just took my loss with pride. It’s just a phone anyway, right? – a friend said to me*.* I nearly teared up, not because of receiving a new free phone, because it was at the moment that I suspected Googlers felt what we felt. Thank you to the masterminds behind this gift.
— Nigerian local guides ( @EmekaUlor , @Mayford , @SanyaOdare ). You three have become my family in this community. While each of you are strong figures in the program, I love your that your genuine care has never changed. None of you will never bring up a problem without immediately thinking of a solution. You three inspire me to keep thriving and putting our country on the map (literally and figuratively). I love us; I love our country; and I love what we have to offer to the world.
— @RiccyB. You not only helped me understand the word “alchemy” as it applies to our experience, but you helped me realize that passion is not always seen in plain sight. Simply by being fully present and giving your pure self to others, you have shown your passion. I was surprised that I was a lot more reserved during this conference than I normally am, but I really wanted to understand all 300 individuals and take in every single detailed “unseen” experience. Thank you for being a patient individual.
— Italian and Australian local guides. These two countries stuck out to me, because each of you individuals are oddly unique yet unapologetically honest and yourself. There were no dull moments with any of you.
—One Accessibility Team ( @EmekaUlor , @PennyChristie , @Jesi , @KashifMisidia , @MarineSergent , @Kwiksatik ). I am grateful and appreciative to be amongst a group of leaders in the program. We are not driven by recognition but simply because we each have our own personal deep story of what keeps us going and you can tell. Our chats may get serious at times, but I truly appreciate each and every one of your genuine contributions and personality types ( @Jesi – I admire what your inner self has to offer. On the outside, most see you as shy and quiet, but I see the strong woman you are capable of and will be).
Rounding Off
There were many highlights of the conference and if I keep typing, this post would actually become a book. Thank you everybody. It will be hard for me to share what I felt to those who did not experience what I did, but I will do this through my actions – by being even more dedicated and passionate than I am now.
Fellow local guides, what did you feel during this conference? Any similarities? Which moments stuck out to you? Please share below – let’s continue the Connect experience!
#localguides #localguidesconnect #connectlive