Eugene and Rebecca met in the fall of 2015. Rebecca had recently moved to Cape Town from the US and therefore was in dire need of some young, hip South African friends. Enter Eugene! He picked her up on the way to a dinner, and they enjoyed a lovely evening together, with Eugene regaling her about his latest antics and taking her to see some of the best views in the city. They became friends, and then it evolved into something much deeper. They shared their stories and traditions. Eugene brought Rebecca to the farm in Prince Albert; she cooked him his first Thanksgiving dinner; and together they explored the city and mountains. Their first year in Cape Town flew by, but they built the foundation for what was to come. Rebecca moved back to the US in 2016 to start graduate school, and thus the pair began their very long-distance relationship. Over the years, Rebecca has returned to South Africa to visit Eugene countless times, and they have met each other and each other's family all over the world, including trips to Italy, Canada, and the Dominican Republic. Eugene proposed to Rebecca in his hometown of Prince Albert in October 2022. We have been through many days-long flights and millions of Facetime calls to get us to this moment. We are beyond excited for our new life chapter together, and are so grateful for the love and support from all of you every step of the way. Now let's pop open the bubbles and celebrate!