We met the way all great love stories begin: in Philadelphia… right before moving to Morocco. Both of us had joined the Peace Corps—idealistic, slightly naive, and very determined to make a difference. Sonam, from Seattle. Giulianna, from Wisconsin. We were total strangers when we showed up to pre-departure training in Philly (where, plot twist, we’re now getting married). First impressions? Not great. We were both chosen to give speeches at our swearing-in ceremony—in Moroccan Arabic, no less. Giulianna’s was heartfelt. Sonam’s was funny. And naturally, each of us thought ours was better. (This remains a point of friendly debate.) But beneath all that mild rivalry and youthful overachieving, something was brewing. After a few months apart in our respective sites, we reconnected during a training. That’s when Giulianna learned that Sonam’s Peace Corps experience wasn’t as flawless as it looked. And that’s when things changed. Cue: long bus rides, shaky Arabic, late-night rooftop talks, shared snacks, and—romantic classic alert—a surprise act of caretaking during a bout of food poisoning. (Sonam brought Tylenol and crackers. A+ move.) From there, we were inseparable. We traveled together, fumbled through cultural misunderstandings together, supported each other, and found comfort in being our real, unfiltered selves. Since Peace Corps, we’ve navigated grad school, long-distance love, several zip codes, and countless airports. We now live in D.C. with our dog Zaytoun—whose name means “olive” in Arabic, a small nod to where our story began. And then—another full-circle moment. On a trip to Dubrovnik, Croatia, at sunset on a hilltop, Sonam proposed. It was beautiful, heartfelt, and unforgettable… even though Giulianna *technically* had food poisoning (again, thanks to a recent trip to Morocco). The timing may not have been glamorous, but it was perfectly *us*: slightly chaotic, deeply meaningful, and full of love. Today, we’re still working toward the greater good—Sonam in government, helping keep people safe; Giulianna with a women’s nonprofit, protecting human rights defenders around the world. It’s work that keeps us grounded and connected to what brought us together in the first place: a shared belief in showing up, doing our best, and always supporting each other—even when one of us is down for the count with a questionable stomach. We can’t wait to celebrate with you in the city where it all began.