Not gonna lie, I have started being a local guide since last year, the time when I had seen a post of the #ConnectLive2019 applications and I decided to apply for the next year’s event, so here I am XD. Since I started, everything was so new to me, and I even felt this was just a boring job, we just take pictures of the places, write something and then post it online. At that time, I just tried to write some useful information on the Google Maps in my spare time, trying to let people know of the places in Viet Nam and places I have been to, I have not even bothered how the posts would go.
However, after a few months of writing stuff, I am one-hundred-percent sure that my life has changed a bit since then. I still remember the first time I received the email from Google saying “Your review is making a difference, A number of people saw your review” and “One people has liked your photo on Google Maps”, to be honest, I have never felt so blessed like that before, I knew that I have done something good for the community and for my country, and some people might feel helped from my posts and my words are helpful to visitors. Therefore, I have been trying to be more detailed for each of my next posts and my reviews, making them a reliable source for people when they come to my city. Since then onwards, I have usually shared my reviews of the places I have been, whenever I travel or just when I have a meal at the local food vendor, I take more pictures of foods, drink, or the menus and share it online for other people, trying to make my currently living city more detailed and friendly to the foreigners and for the locals as well.
So, if asked what the Local Guides have changed me today versus me of exactly one year before, I would say it has changed me a lot: yes, I also take pictures; however, when I take them, I tried harder to capture pictures at a good angle, I tried harder to capture pictures with as many details as possible, I tried harder to put myself in the visitors’ shoes that what they could have felt if they have seen these pictures on the maps and decided to come to the place or not. Therefore, each time I tried harder when I write stuff on the maps, I knew that somehow the local vendors in my city are better off thanks to visitors. Next, when I started, I just thought that I tried to let people know of the places; however, when some of my posts are viewed thousand times and liked, I feel that I am able to connect people through my posts and make my community better, not just simply let them know. That’s what I got from the Local Guides program and I feel so happy for the fun it gave me. However, I also feel a bit sad because I never have a good partner to be reviewing with, I’m just doing things alone. I hope in the future I would have a good local guide friend. XD
Lastly, I’d like to say thank you all for making my life more broadened, more humanity-oriented, and happier. Thanks to the Local Guides program team. I am appreciated.