The Local Guides program is something I can’t even start thinking of quitting. Personally, being a Local Guide means giving back, helping tourists find their way, shaping my profession as a Geography Teacher and helping me to be more aware of my surrounding.
Giving back
We live in a world where most of the time it is all about taking and taking. Local Guides program introduced me to another perspective of life; that is giving back even without expecting anything in return. That’s why since I started contributing to the Local Guides program, I have never looked back until now I am in Level 8. I have taken and shared pictures of hotels, rivers, ocean, roads, animals, churches and the list is endless. All these with a view of giving back to anyone who visits Google Maps.
Helping Tourists
One of my photos with the highest views shows a popular tourist information and tourist agency here in Seychelles. I just shared it recently but now it tops the list in terms of views. This gives me satisfaction because I know I have made the life of a tourist somewhere to be much easier. I intentionally captured the surrounding buildings including the road to make it easy for tourists to locate it.
Shaped my Profession as a Geography Teacher
As a Geography Teacher here in Seychelles, the Local Guides program has shaped my profession a great deal. You see Geography deals with photos, people and places. And there could not be a better place for me to get this information than in the Local Guides program. I am now in a better place to consume any information related to maps since I am a contributor of the same.
Helped me to be more aware of my location
By being a regular contributor to the Local Guides program, I have become more aware of my surroundings. I am able to pick out some details which I could not do before joining the program. I am always thinking to myself, “this meandering road can make a great picture and in turn help many people find their way”. Once I had gone for an adventure on the Southern part of the Seychelles’ main island, Mahe. On my way back, I noticed a flag of Barcelona Football Club hoisted on a live fence. I took a picture and shared it. This very picture received a lot of views. This is what leaves me think of taking the next picture.
To me, the Local Guides program means so much and that is why I won’t stop taking and sharing pictures any time soon!