Linh and I were first introduced by the method every Southeast Asian goes through and resists: our respective mothers asking, "Do you think this person is cute?" My aunt was actually the bridge; knowing Linh's father since childhood, and asked my mom, "Does Tom want to meet her?" We were both usually resistant to meeting people this way, but luckily, we were feeling like we could use a free coffee from our parents, and let's face it, it's always better when the parents pay! We were shy and awkward at first, and it didn't help that both of our parents were looking at us all giddily. One topic after another, we couldn't stop talking and smiling at each other. By the end of it, I knew that this wouldn't be the last coffee we'd have together.

After both agreeing that long distance was not something either of us wanted to do because of all of the challenges, we decided to do long distance. Since I came home to the States on February 9th, 2025, we haven't missed a single day of talking. As of today (4/5/26) it has been 450 days of growing more in love with each other. I'm not going to check the math, but my point is, every day of talking to each other I would grow more in love with her. Every moment I am not talking to her, I am waiting to hear from her. Not only myself, but even my mom and aunt would call Linh more than they would call me! I was only slightly jealous, but more happy with the fact that Linh got along with my family so well. This is when I realized, that okay, I'm falling for her right now and I know she is the one. As luck would have it, she felt the same way. The strong connection and intimacy we built for each other through all the messaging, video calls, and sharing Instagram reels brought us closer to the point where marriage was already in our plans. So, what did these two crazy, stupid, in love kids decide to do after knowing each other for only 7 months? We decided to plan a summer getaway trip to Nha Trang and Da Lat. We also had to cut our time in Nha Trang in half because we had to fly back to her home city to get married at the clerk's office. It was risky, it was too early, we never even heard each other's farts before, but we didn't care and married each other anyways, and it was the best decision we ever made because it only made our love and commitment to each other even stronger.

The way life unfolds never ceases to amaze me. I never expected to marry a man I’d known for such a short time, let alone someone who lived half a world away. I love how God has this plan for us. Like any couple in love, we always make time for each other, and the distance has never been an obstacle. Our love grows deeper every day through a constant stream of messages, video calls, reels, and photos. I’m also so lucky that Thomas always includes me in the small moments of his day so I never feel left out. His thoughtfulness and consistency are what I love most about him. More than just a husband, I’ve found a best friend and a wonderful travel partner. Gosh, I just love spending time with this man! Long-distance is not easy, but we are committed to making it work. Planning our next visits and future vacations is what keeps us excited. In the end, we just long to see each other again and build a family together soon.