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Angie Schuppe

Angie Schuppe is a native of Venezuela who came to the United States as an exchange student and remained. She has been a resident of Columbus since 1993, and lived in Texas for about eight years before that. She attended college in her native land and in Texas, receiving a degree in psychology. She has two daughters living in Columbus, but the rest of her family remains in Venezuela.

The climate is the main difference she has experienced since moving to the U.S., she says, along with geographic differences such as mountains and beaches. But the change of seasons here has led to her biggest difficulty in adjusting -- driving in snow.

Angie loves to travel, and has been a translator in many different situations. Language barriers exist, she says, not only for those who speak Spanish in an English environment, but also among those who speak Spanish. Different countries have different dialects and different meanings for words. Many in the Midwest assume all Spanish-speaking persons they meet are from Mexico, and more awareness is needed in the diverse groups of people who speak the language.

She said she has not faced discrimination, but "it's an attitude thing. I just don't think that way. "Columbus has been wonderful for me," she says, because she has met many people and has been in various community activities. "My advice for people coming here from another country is that you need to find a way to adjust to the community. The best way to do that is to help with community projects. It's easier for one person to adjust to the community than for the community to adjust to a small group or one person."

One holiday Venezuela marks which Angie has not seen celebrated in the United States is the Jan. 6 "Three Wise Men" celebration. It's a family day marked by visits and festivities and gifts for children which are said to come from the Three Wise Men.