On November 11th, 2019, I left my home country and was California bound on what seemed to be a whirlwind adventure. I was heading there on an invitation from the Google Local Guides Programme themself, and if that was not enough, this trip happened to be my first in 14 years. Upon my arrival, this opportunity quickly became the gift that’s always giving. The people, service, and care that was taken to curate this entire experience was extraordinary. I quickly realized that the culture was very unique and intriguing, almost like a self-contained bilingual society. I was very taken with that because of my love for languages.
Meeting and greeting with my now 200+ local guide family was an embedded theme of our entire visit. Not only do I now understand the “Coffee Culture” of San Jose but I genuinely met and became friends with persons from all over the world that carried pieces of their own cultures with them to share, myself included. The happiness, warmth and share thrill of meeting face-to-face with persons I’ve only know virtually for months, was an ecstatic and irreplaceable feeling.
Throughout my stay, google paired me with expert mentors and provided culturally drenched excursions that armed me with so content that I was able to share my experience with my family, friends and even take my entire country along for a tour in San Jose. Back home, I am now considered an expert on all things Google and often consulted on how to sign up for the Local Guides Program. I am happy that I could help to facilitate a feedback-driven environment for Buyers and Sellers of Commerce. This is the single most momentous and interesting thing I have been able to achieve as a Local Guide and will continue to do so.
