We met during orientation week August 2022 at the University of Arkansas where we were both in masters programs (Spanish literature and German literature). The language Teaching Assistants all shared a “hub” at the World Language & Digital Humanities Studio, and we ran into each other there almost daily. After about a month, we went on our first date. Our first year of dating consisted of studying at the university, late night study sessions at the library, weekend studying at coffee shops and the city library, and some more studying. There were a few dance classes, day trips to Eureka Springs, and dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant somewhere in there too. Jhonatan graduated in May of the following year (2023) and was granted an Optional Practical Training visa, a one-year extension of the student visa. With a time crunch to find a job, he took an offer in Winchendon, Massachusetts at a boarding school. Ellen had another year of grad school, so we racked up airline points with visits back and forth. Before leaving for Massachusetts, we got to visit Oregon together where Jhonatan met Ellen’s family. They approved. We spent Christmas that year with Ellen’s family in Oregon, New Years in Arkansas, and then flew to Massachusetts together. We got married two weeks after that in January 2024. Please see our photo gallery for pictures of our ceremony and wedding weekend :) This spring, Ellen graduated with her masters and we decided to move back to Oregon together! We live close to family in Beaverton with our kitty Momo (Maggie). Jhonatan got offered his ideal job as a Spanish Curriculum Developer for a small university and he started in September! Next year, we plan to travel to Colombia to visit Jhonatan’s family!