Hello all,
I am a local guide living in Quebec City, Canada.
My passions are travelling, photography and gastronomy. I describe myself as a coffee/tea lover that enjoys eating delicious food from around the world.
I joined the Local Guides program in June 2016 out of curiosity. I’ve been writing in my blog about my travels for 10 years now. When I heard about the program I said to myself, “why don’t you try to be a local guide?”
I have been using Google maps since it started offering its service (as many of you). Google maps has greatly helped us to plan many of our trips abroad, to find our way when we are lost and to find places or services with good recommendations from local guides.
The local guide program has given me the opportunity to contribute and create an impact in our current society: helping people to meet people, places, services or simply create interest in other cultures.
Sharing useful and practical information as if a restaurant is family-friendly or if it offers vegetarian options or if it has an entrance for people in wheelchairs can make a huge difference in people’s lives. It is amazing what crowdsourcing can do!
Personally, this program has encouraged me to be a better photographer, to be more observant and to be more interested in the culture of the city I’m representing or the countries I visit.
I feel a great feeling of fulfillment when the program congratulates me for when my photos reach many people or when I am congratulated for being in the top local guide of my city.
When I travel, what I enjoy the most is discovering family-owned places, you know, those little places that produce locally in an artisanal way. I love being able to talk with them, share their passion for what they do and see how their children are proud to learn the business.
It has been very rewarding as a local guide to help people. Not only in 2D but in 3D too. In my city, I live very close to the tourist zone and I have had the opportunity to help people who need it. When my husband and I travel to other countries, sometimes we are lost. We have been helped by wonderful people who stop by to ask us if they can help us.
Here in Quebec, I remember a Korean couple that I helped. When they thanked me, I replied “You’re welcome” in Korean, their faces lit up with a smile. I only speak a few words in Korean, but it’s amazing what a little detail like this can brighten your day. I am very pleased to be able to return the kindness that my husband and I have received on our trips.
And all the mentioned above would not have been possible without having been positively influenced by the Local Guides program. So yeah! This is what the program means to me.