It all began in October 2018 in the bustling city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. David and Tara were on long-term work assignments with the CDC. Although we had never crossed paths before, fate brought us together in the same apartment building. Every morning, we would walk to the Embassy to catch our ride to work. For the first several weeks, we were just colleagues; someone to enjoy exploring the new city, eating dinner after work, and sharing rides-to-from work. As we walked and talked, navigating the busy streets, and sitting in traffic, we began to see each other in a different light. We started spending more time together after work, exploring the vibrant city of Phnom Penh and venturing into other parts of Southeast Asia. What started as a friendship grew into something more meaningful as we shared these experiences. We have often said, ‘because we were not trying to impress each other, we got to know the real person’. When our time in Cambodia ended, we returned to Atlanta, but our connection didn’t fade. We stayed connected, often meeting for lunch and reminiscing about our time abroad. Then, about a year later, our paths crossed again—this time in South Africa. It was there, amidst the breathtaking landscapes and thrilling adventures, that the magic truly happened. David took Tara on a camping safari in the wild, something Tara never imagined doing. But with him, Tara felt safe, excited, and more alive than ever. It was in those moments, surrounded by the beauty of nature, that we realized we were falling in love. We knew that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. Since then, we’ve faced challenges, including a long-distance relationship while David was in the DRC for two years. But our love has only grown stronger and now, as we stand on the brink of a new chapter in our lives, we couldn’t be more excited to share our love and what we found together with the world.