Shannon & Matthew - Tampa, Florida

This Week Interracial Couple | Mon 12/08/2013 ♥

Shannon: Born in Tampa, Fl - 20 yrs young
Matthew: Born in Voorhees, NJ - 20 yrs young
Together: 8 months

When, Where and/or How did you meet your BF?

• Shannon: Matthew and I met in September of 2012. My cousin and Matt's best friend, who have been dating for a year now, are the ones who introduced us to each other. Since I live in Florida and Matt lives in New Jersey, the first impressions we had of each other were on Facebook.

What was your first impression of your BF/GF?

• Shannon: My first impression of Matthew was limited because we met on Facebook. We did not meet in person until December, 2012. Between September and December, as we started talking more and more, I realized that this person had the intelligence, the charm, the kindness, and the humor to make me fall in love with him, even though I hadn't even met him in person yet. 
• Matt: When Shannon and I started talking on Facebook I thought she was many of the things that I had always wanted in a girl. A good sense of humor, wit and a good mentality. After talking some more I found that she was extremely good with academics and valued learning and the pursuit of knowledge. I didn't expect anything to come of it initially due to the distance, but after meeting eight months ago, all of my thoughts were confirmed.

When did you first know you are falling in love with your BF/GF?

• Shannon: I knew I was in love with Matthew when I realized I trusted him completely. He is quick to forgive, easy to love, and always happy to help me in any way. The first time I told him I loved him was a complete accident. We had been dating for a few days and we were at a party one of his friends was throwing. I had just made a joke about our height difference (I am five inches taller than Matt is), and all his friends were laughing and hooting at us. Matt tells me, "Baby! This is so not good for my ego!" and I laugh and say, "Awe, Matthew, I love you," and he said it immediately back. I remember feeling so embarrassed that I had let such a strong feeling slip when we had only been dating such a short amount of time. Later though, Matthew tells me that he had already been thinking the words for months.
• Matt: We're in a long distance relationship, and so we had been talking for months before we actually met and started dating. I would say that I started to fall for her before she actually came to visit. During our several hours Skype conversations and the time we spent texting every day, I was certain that she was the one for me. My only reservation was that I wanted to wait until we met, to see if we still felt the same way. We were both sure that we would, but having never met each other, there was always a chance. When I walked into that room and saw her smile for the first time (not on a computer screen), I knew I loved this woman.

What responses have your friends/family had to your relationship with your partner?

They're all for it.

• Shannon: My family and friends know that I am going to make my decisions on my own, without their help. They generally trust me in making these decisions. The only real issue Matt and my face are our difference in height. I am 5'10", which is five inches taller than he is. When we are out in public, there are always people staring at us. We hear things like, "That is one TALL girl!" or "That is one girl who should NOT wear heels." A lot of my friends have just laughed in my face over him being shorter than me. I don't care. I love my boyfriend with all my heart and we personally don't have an issue with the difference at all. We don't even notice it until someone makes it an issue in front of us.
• Matt: Like Shannon's friends and family, mine tend to bring up our height difference. It doesn't bother us at all, and we don't even notice it unless someone points it out. I've heard more jokes and comments about our difference in height than our difference in race, which wasn't something I was expecting. My family doesn't have any reservations about me dating someone of a different race and I love them for that. They've welcomed Shannon with open arms and treat her like family.

Have you tried the cuisine from your partners' culture? If yes, which is your favourite dish and why?

• Shannon: Matthew was born in the United States. His culture is a mixture of Japanese, Filipino, and German. The dishes his mother prepares are largely varied, but his grandmother is 100% Japanese and makes an amazing Japanese dish called Inarizushi.
• Matt: Shannon's entire family is very Southern, and a lot of their dishes are very different from what we have here up north. My favorite dish of Shannon's would have to be her twice-baked macaroni and cheese with slow cooked BBQ chicken, using her homemade sauce. She makes it for me every time I visit her in Florida.

When you were a teenager who did you fancy, which teen idol made you scream or fantasied?

• Shannon:  I have actually always fancied Will Smith and Gerard Butler.
• Matt: We're both huge Harry Potter fans, I'd say Emma Watson.

Have you ever received a comment as an interracial couple? If so, what was your reaction?

• Shannon: We haven't received anything too derogatory. Mostly, people will joke about it, but it hasn't gone too far. People will typically claim that I have "Yellow Fever", without letting me explain that Matthew's race is not the reason I started dating him. That can frustrating to me because people are so easy to accept their own explanations.

What stereotype(s) have you found to be TRUE and/or FALSE with your BF/GF?

• Shannon: Matt is really, really bad at math, but he definitely fits the short Asian stereotype.
• Matt: While Shannon was raised Southern, she is a very open minded person. She grew up on a farm but she doesn't fit the stereotype of "redneck". The stereotype that she does fit would be that she's a really good cook

What advice would you have for someone who is hesitant but would like to start an IR relationship?

If the opinions of others are holding you back, you need to reevaluate your own opinions. All people, regardless of the tone of their skin, or their cultural background, can be just as equally fulfilling on what they bring to a relationship. I love my short, Asian boyfriend. (And I love my tall, farm-girl girlfriend ;D)

What is the best advice you have ever received from your BF/GF?

• Shannon: Matt has really helped me in learning acceptance of myself and of others around me. He helps me feel important and significant. I'm not sure how I can word this in terms of advice, but his confidence in me has made me a much more secure person.

• Matt: I'm not nearly as focused as Shannon is when it comes to academics, and I've always either been a procrastinator or the class clown throughout high school. However, since starting college, I've asked her quite a few questions about how she stays so focused during long lectures or how she stays on task during long study periods. The best advice she's ever given me went something like this: "You need to have a goal. Whether it's your future, me, or anything else. Every time you get discouraged or start to lose focus you need to remind yourself of what you're working for."

   

   

   

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  Check out Shannon on Instagram | I'm a senior at USF. I like cats. Because, cats. kik:Shannegans http://www.facebook.com/shannonnaomivalentine

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