Our story began when Allie and I independently decided to travel abroad with Semester at Sea. For those wondering, yes, it’s just like the TV show “Suite Life on Deck.” What better place in the world could there be to get to know someone than traveling on a ship and across oceans for four months with limited access to phone and internet? This story actually begins well before we took our first steps onto the MV Explorer in Ensenada, Mexico. Ryan Luck found Allie in the University of Michigan library a few months prior to our trip. He told her that he had a friend going on the same study abroad program, that we were the male and female equivalents of each other, and then he showed her my Facebook. She laughed at my profile picture and shooed me before even meeting me. Fast-forward two months, and we are both in the same all hands-on deck meeting listening to the Do’s and Don’ts of our next port of call, Hilo, Hawaii. Recognizing me from my ‘ugly’ Facebook profile picture, Allie tapped me on the shoulder and said, “You’re Jordan Danzansky.” This was not a question. It was a statement. From there, we sat out on the back deck and talked well into the morning. We’ve been inseparable ever since. After the next day in Hawaii, we changed our travel plans so that we could be together in almost every future port, starting with Japan. This was where Andie told me “ I would never get with Allie.” Less than 24-hours later, we had our first kiss on the steps of the Muse nightclub. Next stop was Beijing, China, where the Lipschutz clan met our ship. There, Lainie told Allie, “Jordan’s just a flash in the pan, I don’t need to meet him.” But here I am, still kicking 3+ years later (Hi Lainie!) It wasn’t until the last night in Hong Kong that I finally got to see her again. We bounced around the Hong Kong nightlife, had a few drinks and had the most memorable slice of (obviously plain cheese) pizza on the steps of Lan Kwai Fong.

Next was Vietnam where we bartered for 50 cent Tiger Beers, ate a goat’s heart and learned to love Pho. We also spent our first Valentine’s Day together in robes, with champagne by the pool. In Singapore, we established the theme of our relationship; out with friends for 30 minutes then back to our hotel, renting movies and ordering room service. Our friends thought our leaving early would be a one time thing after a long day. We’ve been canceling plans on our friends to order in pizza and chinese food ever since. I knew that I loved her in India. I was sick with a 104 fever, we were traveling apart for the first time since Hawaii, it was Allie’s birthday, and we couldn’t celebrate together. We were hundreds of miles apart; trying to immerse ourselves in the culture, but all that we could think about was each other. After India we knew that we could never be apart again. Mauritius was an adventure, so to was South Africa, where we first said, “I love you” at Stellenbosch winery. Our last and best stop was Morocco, but the fear of returning back to reality was daunting. We didn’t know what to do or how our long distance relationship would work out. Allie even tried breaking up with me for a week, convinced that she would go to Skeeps if she was “unattached” – like that girl would ever make it to Skeeps with or without me. Six days after the “break up phone call” she was in Bloomington like nothing had ever happened. After 10 dreadful months of a long distance relationship, countless drives and flights between Ann Arbor, Bloomington, Bloomfield Hills and Florida, we graduated college, loaded up and moved to Chicago. The rest is current history. Every single day has been a special adventure. I wouldn’t have it any other way, with any other girl! Here is to a lifetime full of excitement, love, travel and escapades with you Allie Baby Goose. All My Love, Jordan aka Your Fiancé