I joined Local Guides program 2 years ago and it has had a significant impact on my life since then.
For me, being a local guide means psychological friendships without boundaries, mutual assistance and quality assurance.
Thanks to participating in the Local Guides program, I made friends with such remote places as Spain, the USA, Israel, Italy, Switzerland, and many others.
Caption: One of the favorite places in Kiev - riverside Dnipro
I always wondered how many people who live in this big world can learn some part of life, culture or everyday life through other people from a completely unfamiliar country or locality.
I was always interested in how each person personifies the cultural system of his country with his personality and how he can share it with other people.
All my life I intuitively felt like part of something global and the Local Guides program implemented and made this understanding come true in useful activities.
I feel friendly psychological ties with many people from all parts of the world and am amazed at the diversity of their understanding and reflection of this beautiful world.
This is a great opportunity to enrich each other through the experience of other people and giving your own.
When traveling to other countries, I always take into account the experience, customs, outlook on things and the assessment of the quality of local guides.
Ultimately, this program celebrates our amazing features and gives a feeling of unity and interconnectedness, the desire to share what we like, live in anticipation and implementation of new discoveries, and to know ourselves new in new places!
I love how the local guide allows me to help others. In particular, I advocate a healthy lifestyle and swimming. I was able to help people who are looking for swimming pools in the center of Kiev for sports swimming, recreational swimming and swimming with young children, adding the locations of some pools to the map:
https://goo.gl/maps/uGjQ2pqABgesShwH6
I can help potential pool customers by leaving reviews and descriptions so that they have a complete impression of the place.
One of my most useful actions on Maps is posting photos about the opening hours of the State Archives of Kiev. I did not expect more than 600 people to view the photos, and it is important for analysis that often unexpectedly information can be useful to many more people.
Caption: A screenshot of one of my most useful photos, which was viewed by 690 people on Google Maps.
I visited the archive to compose my family tree and just took a picture of the work schedule for myself. Google maps suggested that I mark the photo, and that’s what happened. This is surprising and I think that it worked precisely thanks to the simple form of information transfer.
I also often like to significantly participate in the process of compliance with the quality requirements of the services or goods provided. I receive this confirmation as a local guide. Often companies write that they will take better care of quality and this will come true. This is encouraging and shows that small shares can make a big effect. If all Local Guides can influence this, then our wonderful beautiful, ancient city will become even better for residents and visitors.