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 inKarachi, 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
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Learn more about Alexandre in September 2020
Learn more about Shafiul in August 2020
Learn more about Jane in July 2020
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Learn more about Stephen in November 2018
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Learn more about Nunung in July 2018
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Learn more about Ivan in January 2018
Learn more about Ermes in December 2017
