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The Appalachian Mountains earned their name through a series of translations through Spanish and French due to colonization and exploration. The term came from the term Apalache, a Spanish word first seen used to describe this location in Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca’s account!

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Chiapas, Mexico is extremely important to the conversation around global literature and, more importantly, North Carolina literature. Chiapas, Mexico is the area through which most, if not all, individuals looking to migrate to North America through South America must pass through. These experiences are grueling, intense and dangerous typically. People who go through these hardships come intending to make a new life for themselves or earn money to send to their families. Through this, North Carolina and other areas become richer with cultures brought with these individuals. Tzotzil is a language spoken by the Mayan language spoken by individuals in Chiapas. This language is spoken throughout North Carolina, and so are many other indigenous languages. Studying these experiences helps us understand North Carolina through a myriad of other experiences, down to the language spoken.

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The EBCI (Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians) is vital to the culture of our communities and our state. The EBCI, while being considered part of the area we call North Carolina, are actually located in a sovereign territory known as the Qualla boundary. This area is not technically a part of North Carolina and is not, nor was it ever, a reservation. This land belongs to the EBCI, and that is an incredibly important distinction. This is important to the conversation around global literatures in NC as it shows a border extremely close to home, and also shows the ways in which borders can be vital to a communities culture and survival. Discussing literature that comes from this area is also important as it highlights the ways in which individuals with differing backgrounds interpret and connect with the same area/space.

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Morganton, before it was the city that we know it as now, was a town known as the "berry site". During December of 1566, the Spanish built a fort right outside of the area we now know as Morganton. Their leader, however, left his Spanish men at this fort while he traveled looking to establish more forts. During this time, the men left in this area were wiped out. This fort was located right outside of Morganton NC. The importance of this history cannot be overstated as it is a prime example of English not only not being the first language spoken here, but it not even being the first European language spoken in this area. This has a massive impact on our view of North Carolina literature as it highlights the many different names, rules and eras that this land has gone through. There are 8 different Mayan languages spoken in Morganton, NC today!

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After my freshman year of college I decided to take a gap year and move to Wilmington to fill a room that my high school friend had available. While this was one of the hardest times of my life, it was also such an impactful time for me. I learned independence, financial responsibility and how to take care of both my mental and physical health. I will always look back at my time in Wilmington as one of the most formative experiences of my life.

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While I never lived in Parkerburg, my entire family grew up here. This is where my grandparents were raised and met, where my father and aunt were born and where our immediate family began. My grandparents are very important people to me as they were extremely active in my upbringing, so Parkersburg and the people that have come out of it is definitely a very impactful place to me and my life. We also used to visit Parkersburg each year for family reunions, and these are some of the most fun and childlike memories I have!

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In 2015, my father moved myself and my brother to Beaufort, NC from our hometown of Cherryville, NC. This move had a massive impact on me, giving me a new environment and allowing me and my brother to form new relationships that we never would have found in Cherryville. Beaufort is a small town right under the Outer Banks on the North Carolina coast. It is known for its scenic downtown area and proximity to Atlantic Beach, the beginning of the Crystal Coast!