Jamie and Barney met in January of 2023, six miles deep into Belize’s neotropical rainforest. At the time, Barney was taking care of endangered turtles at an environmental research center, while Jamie was co-leading a study abroad trip for creative writing students. She spotted Barney on a trail as he was cradling a tub of turtle eggs, snapped a photo like a creepy person would do, and imagined telling her friends that she’d seen the most beautiful stranger on her trip. Instead, she told them that she’d gained a boyfriend (and a parasite—but that’s another story). Barney and Jamie’s official meet-cute happened when Jamie and her group volunteered at the turtle’s captive breeding facility. Somehow, while she was soaked in sweat and bug spray, raking feces out of a pond, she caught Barney’s attention. The duo struck up a half-hour-long conversation while he was on the clock and her group members toiled under the sun. Barney and Jamie’s enjoyment of each other grew as they hiked under the howler monkeys, spotted rare birds, and kayaked up the Bladen River. By the end of Jamie’s two-week stay in the jungle, her group was slotted to travel to an island two hours away. After they said their goodbyes, Barney managed to hop on a bus, hail a Hokey Pokey Water Taxi past its schedule, and make it to the island to surprise Jamie. They had their first real date at the Pickled Parrot, sharing burgers and beers. Like a couple of delusional goofs, they decided to date long-distance… which turned into one and a half years of phone calls. Miraculously, Barney wasn’t scared away from Minnesota on his first visit—probably because it was summer and Jamie’s older sister downplayed her usual intimidation tactics. Barney moved to Minnesota in August of 2024 to continue his education, and proposed to Jamie at Lake Phalen the following summer. They’re thrilled to continue writing their story together.