2022
Connect Moderators are Local Guides just like you and me. They apply the knowledge they’ve gained as active members of our community to moderate Connect and help improve the experience for everyone. You may see them welcoming newcomers, explaining the program, answering questions, and sharing their knowledge with others.
Each month, we share some personal insights from one of our amazing Connect Moderators. This month, meet Kashif (@KashifMisidia). Kashif lives in Karachi, Pakistan, and speaks English, Urdu, Sindhi, Memon, and some Gujrati.
Name: Kashif Abdul Razzaq
Location: Karachi, Pakistan
What I love about being a Local Guide: As a Local Guide, I get the chance to express what's on my mind through my reviews, pictures, and other contributions on Google Maps, [as well as] Connect posts and knowledge sharing and other meet-ups in different cities.
My skills took a huge boost after [I became] a Local Guide. It made me discover a hidden quality in myself, which is the teacher and writer's trait. This quality, apart from writing articles about the daily adventures of a Local Guide, also helps me to guide [others] and share the wisdom I have learned from my fellow Local Guides.
Another thing I was blessed with after becoming a Local Guide is valuable friends. Through the Local Guides program and especially through Local Guides Connect, I got [to know] hundreds of friends [from] around the world, some of whom are my best friends now.
Why I’m a Connect Moderator: It has always been my utmost priority to welcome newcomers to Connect so that the new beginnings [turn into] cherishable [memories]! Connecting on this great forum and guiding [others] with my knowledge are some of the [things] I will keep doing for a long time.
I've always enjoyed keeping in touch with Local Guides through virtual and outdoor meet-ups and engaging the community in different useful initiatives, like the series of virtual accessibility meet-ups ♿ I hosted with @JaneBurunina. I intend to continue those efforts with all my passion.
My favorite things to explore: Exploring hidden gems, discovering historical sites that tell a city's history, hiking to see the most mesmerizing natural landscapes, tasting food at local [restaurants] and street stalls are a few of my hobbies.
My favorite type of contribution(s) to make on Google Maps: I like to add new places. It's like creating something new on the map of the world for me. I love to guide people by adding photos, reviews, answering questions about places, and adding information regarding ♿ accessibility on Google maps.
Languages I read/speak/write fluently: Urdu, English (I'm still improving my skills), Sindhi, Memon, and some Gujrati.
Places I’d like to visit: Europe is on my bucket list, along with the USA, Mexico, and India (my father's birthplace is in Gujarat).
Fun fact about me: Holding a mic and pretending to sing like an icon with myself being the backup singer, drummer, and sound effect producer altogether is one of my favorite things to do. I also try to cook some traditional dishes to hone my cooking skills. Doing impromptu photography is also one of my hobbies. As they say, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, so you can't blame me for trying to capture it!
We hope you’ve enjoyed getting to know @KashifMisidia. Say hi or ask him a question below as he has a lot to share about Google Maps and Connect.
Interested in becoming a Connect Moderator? Learn more here.
Want to learn about other Connect Moderators?
Learn more about Feliciana in December 2020
Learn more about Megan in November 2020
Learn more about Penny in October 2020
Learn more about Alexandre in September 2020
Learn more about Shafiul in August 2020
Learn more about Jane in July 2020
Learn more about Luigi in June 2020
Learn more about Julien in May 2020
Learn more about Jan in April 2020
Learn more about Emeka in March 2020
Learn more about Omer in February 2020
Learn more about Sumaiya in January 2020
Learn more about Steve in December 2019
Learn more about Jordan in November 2019
Learn more about Hiroyuki in September 2019
Learn more about Jesi in August 2019
Learn more about Alejandra in June 2019
Learn more about Adrian in May 2019
Learn more about Gregg in January 2019
Learn more about Stephen in November 2018
Learn more about Paul in October 2018
Learn more about Sonia in August 2018
Learn more about Nunung in July 2018
Learn more about Shirley in June 2018
Learn more about Ilankovan in May 2018
Learn more about Farid in April 2018
Learn more about Ludwig in March 2018
Learn more about Karen in February 2018
Learn more about Ivan in January 2018
Learn more about Ermes in December 2017
Great post about a good friend, @InaS
Even if we never met in person (due to some issue with visas) we have been virtually together in 2019.
The pin with the image of Kashif, and a key ring "from" @KashifMisidia are always together on my backpack
Wow!!!! thanks a lot for such a wonderful post @InaS
It's a greatest honor for me to be featured as a Connect Moderator on the forum where I started my journey as a Local Guide in May 2017. It was not even my dream, that's why today I m so much happy that I was reading this Post with wet eyes.
Thank you Local Guides Program, Thank you my Local Guides friends, Thank you Local Guides Connect.
A Big Shukriya ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏
Congrats once more @KashifMisidia vai. Waiting for more from you.
Thank you @InaS for sharing this with all of us.
Stay safe and happy.
Have a great year ahead!
Greetings from Kolkata, India | 
Helpful Hero-Guiding Star 2020
I am very happy to see you here, in this post : Meet a Connect Moderator, thank you @InaS for posting details about @KashifMisidia .
Whenever I face some problems ( regarding Google Maps and connect forum) you help me with providing quality informations.
More specifically, when I started ♿ #AccessibleBengal campaign you supported me(from very first). Also,(I could remember) without any hesitation you joined with me virtually and inspired me a lot.
❤️ From me. Stay safe and always be happy. 🙏
