"Who's this guy and why is he eating a pizza over my shoulder?" We met almost a year before we started dating at a ballroom dance and connected after realizing we had so many friends in common! During a series of hilarious misunderstandings, hijinks, ballroom dance lessons, and boardgame introductions - the fated GT tradition started.... STUDYING TOGETHER! As all GT students know, if you study with someone, it basically means you'll end up marrying them. As evidenced by this case study of one (two?), this statement is 100% accurate.
In true love of dance style, our first date was at a ballroom dance! After the full dissection of a chicken at Takorea (rest in peace), on we went to Athens, GA where we danced the night away at one of the UGA dances. Afterward, Alex was introduced to one of the greatest joys in life - a coke icee. Too bad he didn't believe Nina when she told him it would be better than whatever flavor he got; she had to give up half of hers to him after he found out the error of his ways.
Nina decided to start the "long distance" saga almost immediately by going abroad for eight months just three months after we started dating. And then another three months after that. For the next three years, we kept a running tally of time we had been together vs apart as a joke because she was gone so much. Alex dealt with annoying time zone differences and frequent late-night and early morning calls, so that Nina never felt like she was truly alone, even when 6, 7, or even 12 time zones away. <3
After graduating college, we floated around a little bit - staying with different parents and helping with odd jobs while the world tried to find a sense of normalcy during COVID. We both started regular jobs in the Med Device industry where we met many new friends and started building out our daily routine. As time allowed, we started building out our travel expeditions, now having built a love of traveling together to meet up during Nina's college adventures.
After an anniversary day filled with delights - a ring making lathe workshop, delicious dinner, and a hilarious comedy club adventure - Alex proposed in candlelight while holding a handmade scrapbook of our memories together. How romantic!
We've had so many adventures while studiously not planning a wedding. Finally, though, we made a plan. We can't wait to celebrate with family and friends - welcoming in the start of our next chapter after 8 lovely years together so far!