Global citizen intrigued by Chinese culture

Nadia Maria

Email of the writer: 865068803@qq.com

Nadia Maria, born in New York, the United States, to Greek and Russian parents, came to work in Shenzhen four years ago to fulfill her childhood dream of exploring the world.

When Maria was a teenager, she was curious about different places around the globe, especially the seven wonders of the world.

“In my childhood bedroom, there were pictures of different sites around the world, and the Great Wall of China was one of them. I was always fascinated by Chinese culture, ” Maria said.

Maria started her university studies in Michigan and received scholarships to continue her studies in Japan and Greece. She started her career in international business.

Maria said China must have been misunderstood by the rest of the world, especially the West, as people had a lot of misconceptions about China.

“I changed my career from competitive international business to education, which was something I believed was meaningful,” she said.

“After being exposed to different parts of China and its culture, I saw a different picture: a safe, intriguing, amazingly fast-growing place with friendly people.”

“I feel privileged and humble to be in China and call Shenzhen home,” she said.

“Here I saw so much beauty, so much culture and so much richness in those things and I think they are so essential to pass onto future generations.”

She has traveled to more than 45 countries and been involved in philanthropic activities in China, Pakistan, Egypt, Qatar, Japan. She continues to do so in other countries.

Currently working in education in Nanshan District, Maria also designs jewelry and educational tools such as the World Wheel, while finding time to write, sail and play tennis. She supports charity groups including A Heart for China, GreenFoot, Make-A-Wish and FixIt Karachi, and acts as a representative for the United Nation’s MMUN Cultural Ambassadors Program for children around the world.

She won a third prize at a Chinese calligraphy contest for expats in Guangdong in August last year.