What does the Local Guides program mean to you? The more I think about an answer to this question, the more I’m flooded with wonderful memories from my involvement in the Local Guides program. The question really makes me reflect on where my desire of becoming a Local Guide comes from, how the Local Guides program has had a big impact on my life, the things I have learned, and experiences I have obtained from the program since I joined in September 2015.
Let me begin with how I found out about the Local Guides program. I actually didn’t know about the Local Guides program until I received an email from Christina, Maps Community Manager, on September 4th 2015, after I wrote a review for Fort Marlborough. After I had read the message carefully, I became very interested in the program offered, and decided to sign up immediately. I mention this email because I feel that it contributed to my decision to join the program, and it opened up the world of the Local Guides program to me. By the way, I still keep her email message since it is an encouraging message, and also a milestone that marks the start of a new chapter in my life as a Local Guide. Thank you, Christina.
What the Local Guides Program means to me: friendly, informative and supportive community
The Local Guides program and its official online forum platform, Connect, offer lots of opportunities to make exciting new friendships, even for a fairly shy person like me. Through my involvement both in the Local Guides program and Connect, I’ve made friends from different cities and countries, and learned more about their culture, lifestyle, tourist destinations, etc. Honestly, I have enjoyed getting to know friendly and very helpful Local Guides like @OSAMA_1 , @ErmesT , @PaulPavlinovich , @PaDeSSo , @To_paul , @AgoesSantosa , @Radjasitanggang , and @TravellerG , to name just a few. I really hope I can meet them in person someday.
Along with friendship, I have also learned many things through Connect. Just like other Local Guides and Google Maps users, sometimes I also have barriers and challenges which include technical know-how, language, and cultural barriers. Through Connect, Local Guides are able to offer possible solutions and useful tips to overcome these barriers and challenges. With its “How-tos” topic, Connect has been a helpful platform for Local Guides with insufficient technical know-how like me. I really love the “How-tos” topic.
I love how being a Local Guide allows me to help others. Specifically, I have been able to correct a lot of inaccurate information, such as wrongly placed map markers, incorrect categories, and mistaken business hours from local places and businesses on Google Maps.
As a local guide who loves photography, the Local Guides program has helped me to improve my photography skills through photography projects/articles posted by fellow Local Guides and Googlers.
Being a Local Guide, I get a great sense of satisfaction and joy from being able to engage in the Local Guides program and help others, while doing things that I am passionate about. This program definitely means a lot to me. Thank you for asking this question for the Connect Live 2020 prompt, it brings back some good memories.
. You are such a passionate writer. I enjoyed your article and the amazing story about your review and the E you received. It is also my honor I got you as a best friend from Indonesia that I never expected in my life to have a friend from there. I ask God I can meet you in person 
one-day.
. Thanks a lot for the support and friendship