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Friends Around the World!
ID # 3731
Hello everyone! My name is Stevie Mathis and I am a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I was born and raised in the small town of Marion, which is located in Western North Carolina. At an early age, I developed a passion for traveling and learning about other cultures. Im currently following that passion by majoring in Global Studies (with a focus on nation-state politics and Western Europe) and minoring in History.
When I was a junior in high school, my family decided to host an exchange student from Germany for one semester. From the beginning, I was very excited to integrate someone from another culture into my home. What I didnt realize at the time was that she would become an integral part of my family my sister.
Her willingness to step out of her comfort zone has had an immeasurable impact on my life. Her semester as a part of our family was so successful that she decided to change her plans and stay for an entire year. Since then, I have visited her in Germany on three separate occasions, one of which included a four month stay at her home in Detmold.
During this stay I was immersed into a new culture (and language). I ate traditional butter cookies made by Oma (Grandma), danced to house music at modern clubs, explored everything from castles to concentration camps and big cities to small villages, and had an overall amazing experience!
Although the majority of my international experience is centered on Germany, I have also visited the Netherlands, England, Mexico, Jamaica, and Costa Rica, among others, and have friends around the world. Because of my involvement with various exchange programs, I also have friends living in Mexico, Columbia, Ecuador, Brazil, Panama, Germany, Austria, Norway, England, Azerbaijan, and Armenia.
One thing I have learned from my friends is that no matter where someone is from or what culture they are a part of, everyone has stories to tell. Ive had many wonderful experiences and look forward to sharing my stories with you!
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Stevie Mathis
Hello everyone! My name is Stevie Mathis and I am a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. I was born and raised in the small town of Marion, which is located in Western North Carolina. At an early age, I developed a passion for traveling and learning about other cultures. I’m currently following that passion by majoring in Global Studies (with a focus on nation-state politics and Western Europe) and minoring in History.
