DANA: I returned to Tufts in Fall 2016 after studying abroad in Paris, very excited to share my experience with anyone who would listen. A few weeks into school, my roommates and I hosted our first ski team party of the year. Since I was abroad in the spring and missed a semester of ski team, I needed the low-down on all of the Freshmen, now Sophomores. I was told that there was this "really nice" freshman named Bryan, who also spoke French - intéressant! BRYAN: I first met Dana at a Tufts Ski Team party. She had just gotten back from studying abroad in Paris, and I knew I wanted to go there. Everyone said I should talk to her. I obviously wasn’t intimidated that she was a Senior and I was only a Sophomore. We started talking, and I suavely offered to take her out sometime to talk about Paris. I knew I liked her almost straight away and couldn’t help being excited after that first conversation. D: No surprise, he walked right up to me at the party and asked all about my abroad experience, saying he was hoping to do the Tufts in Paris program when he was a Junior (because in case anyone forgets, I am older than Bryan). I was so excited to tell him all about it, and he even offered to swipe me into the dining hall so that we could chat more. I thought, "yes, this is great, a free meal in the dining hall". I brought my tupperware and loaded up. B: I quickly told my friends that I was taking a Senior out to dinner! The only problem? I had invited her to Dewick Dining Hall… she showed up with tupperware to bring home cereal. Not exactly the best sign for a first date. After a few jokes about how romantic the Tufts dining halls could be, I realized my plan was probably a lost cause. Nevertheless, we stayed in touch. D: We had our ski training week in January 2017 at Gore Mountain. Bryan somehow got put into the "A Team" ski group - which may seem surprising to those who knew him then. I got to know him better and realized he was pretty funny, but didn't think much of it. It only took me a few months to realize that Bryan actually liked me beyond wanting to learn about Paris, and maybe I liked him too despite the fact that he was a Sophomore. B: I like to think I finally won her over with my witty jokes and exceptional skiing, but I’m not so sure that’s true. She did finally agree to go on a real date with me, though. It wasn’t so simple after that. We made it through what we thought was long-distance when I was finishing school at Tufts while Dana worked a real job in Boston. Then, we persevered through real long-distance when I lived in Morocco and Dana was traveling through Australia and Thailand (talk about different time zones)! In the end, it all worked out, and I still think I’m the better skier. D: We've now traveled to eight countries together (yes, including France), have lived in nine houses, skied hundreds of days, biked thousands of miles, and cooked infinite meals....just kidding, Bryan always cooks. We're so excited to keep adding to the list! p.s. I’m the better skier