This is an excellent question! Shockingly, I can name more than just one reason. 
First of all, I am a happy, single girl, who likes to travel alone. Last year, for example, I visited Split (Croatia). Actually, in April I would have gone on my first surprise trip, but unfortunately, this was cancelled, due to corona. My point is: I like to travel alone. In that case, it is incredibly helpful to have an online guide, which is accessible and transparent (for example, I like that I can translate reviews). In Split, I found this great little bar, because I ”Mapsed” it. Yes, I often “Maps” things, when I am not sure whether to go in and try or not. Same thing with this little bar, but then I went in and I ended up buying the menu card as a gift for my friend, haha!
Secondly, I started working as a “fellow” at a school in Karlsruhe, Germany. As a fellow, I am not a teacher, but I will stay for two years and teach underprivileged kids in smaller groups. I am trying to digitalise their skills in my “DIGI-class”, for example by writing a school newspaper. This is a real challenge, because education in Germany is not as digitalised as it is in my home country (the Netherlands). Also, most of ”my kids“ do not have access to mobile devices or laptops. Still, I want them to get more involved with online tips and tricks and that is why I use Google in general, but the Local Guide Program in particular: it is a great tool to accomplish that.
My third and last reason for loving the Local Guide Program, is that I have experienced how life changing it can be. This may sound way too overpraised, but let me explain! In 2017, I graduated and did not know what to do. Then, I found out about this big telecommunication company in Portugal. I was hesitant and did not know if I really wanted to apply for the job in Lisbon. It sounded good: too good to be true, I figured. I remember using Google Maps and checking out the building of my “future work place”. I made pictures of it and sent them to my family to find out about their opinions. Then, I decided to virtually check out Lisbon. Yes, I already loved that city by only watching it on screen…! After my job as a spy was done, I read countless reviews about the company. And then, I decided to go for it. I applied and got the job and moved to sunny LISBOA!
As I was living there, I obviously posted lots of pictures and reviews about my Lisbon life. In my review about the company I wrote my story and added that I would be more than happy to answer people´s questions about it. I remember one girl, who asked me lots of things about the work and life in Portugal and I loved to inform her. In fact, she also decided to go for it and became one of my numerous colleagues!
I hope you enjoyed my story and I am looking forward to using the program on my first trip to the USA…! ^^
Groetjes/GrĂĽĂźe/Greetings,
Karin Kosters