The story actually begins in the Fall of 2011. Andrea and I were facing similar decisions in Dallas and Providence, respectively: spend spring 2012 studying abroad or dive deeper into major leadership positions in our college organizations? For Andrea, it was her sorority presidency and for me an executive board position at Brown’s commercial radio station, WBRU. Moreover, Andrea’s study abroad program in Paris had been canceled, and I had just discovered a passion for computer science that I wanted to explore -- the signs were there, and the resume builders were too good to pass up. So naturally, we both shirked responsibility and headed to Copenhagen for a semester abroad. By chance we were placed into the same apartment building, Vendersgade 24. On the first evening, during a group icebreaker that involved tying yourself to another roommate, Andrea spotted me from across the room and asked me to be her partner. I said “sure”, took her by the hand, and the rest is history. Haha kidding, I shrugged her off, pointed to another housemate and said “I already told her I’d be her partner”. But the seeds were planted, and a few nights later we were burning up the dance floor at Den Glade Gris, and a week after that I was riding my bike all over Copenhagen searching for a box of Hot Tamales (Andrea’s favorite) to slip into her room for Valentine’s Day.

John refused me in an ice breaker game (what a jerk!), then followed me around during a night out with the apartment-mates until I finally agreed to consider going out with him. Then, he found me hot tamales so I thought he was ok. After that, we followed each other around Europe, but not too closely because neither of us wanted to look too into this possibly temporary study abroad love-interest. From Aarhus to Prague to Lisbon, we just couldn't seem to get rid of each other, so I decided to expand our jet-setting stalking to the United States and hopped on a plane to Boston. He showed me his part of the world and I showed him mine until we were able to share the same corner of the country out here in the Bay Area.

I like to plan things. The bigger the thing, the more planning I like to do. And this was a pretty big thing. For a few weeks I had slowly been stealing some of Andrea’s favorite books off the shelves. Mornings after she went to work I would print old photos of us and jot down reflections on our 7 years together. Andrea loves books and I love surprising Andrea with notes, and for our proposal I would combine the 2: on a weekend away I would present Andrea with some books. Each would contain a reflection on our relationship written on the backs of photos of us, with the notes roughly matching the books in theme. For Harry Potter it was the magic of adventure, The Remains of the Day saying the things that need to be said, The Power of Now the challenge of being present for a partner, and Pride and Prejudice the joy of continually rediscovering another person. Notes written, lodging booked, and romantic activities planned we headed up the coast to Timber Cove. Between wine tasting, cute cafes, and beautiful hikes, I gave Andrea the first 3 books on Saturday, and things were going great. But you can’t plan everything. The storm started up at 3pm, and the break that was meant to come around sunset never did. I wanted to propose outside, and it was clear that wouldn't happen Saturday. I went to bed nervous, not knowing how I'd do it Sunday, and Andrea went to bed thinking “not again”. Sunday morning I woke up at sunrise and grabbed a few things from the car. Beautiful light was shining through the dissipating storm clouds, and there was a rainbow over the ocean; it was time. I shook Andrea awake and told her I wanted to take some photos. We stumbled to a beautiful ocean vista in workout clothes, the only time Andrea wasn’t wearing a cute dress or makeup all weekend. I handed her Pride and Prejudice, waited for her to read the note, and got down on a knee. I opened the ring upside down, and I think we both forgot how to talk for a few beats. It was a perfect mess.