In early 2009, on a cold winter day in Pittsburgh, a friend of mine asked me to join a group of Pittsburgh internationals at a newly opened beer garden for a drink. Just before she called, I was ready to cuddle up with a book and a hot chocolate and call it a night. I debated turning her down and sticking to my original plan but gave in to the idea of good company and a German beer. A quick wardrobe change later, I was out the door and into an evening that would become very significant in my life.
At the German bar, the waiter pointed us to a large table that was half full. My friend and I chose our seats next to the group of international folks who liked to get together at least once a month. The ambience was just right, there were young professionals at every corner having conversations while some cool German music played in the background. The wooden interior was warm and cozy which was exactly what was needed on that dreadful winter day.
People in our party streamed in at different times and among them, a good-looking stud with blonde hair and a thick accent. He sat next to me at the large table of about 20 people. He told me he was born and raised in Slovakia but had moved to Germany after college to complete a doctoral degree. He was in Pittsburgh as a two-year expatriate from Germany. We became friends instantly and after months of friendship, we became romantically involved.
Needless to say we had to deal with many questions from friends and families about where the relationship was headed
However, as fate would have it, his work in Pittsburgh was coming to an end and at the end of 2009, he would be moving back to Germany. We had come to really enjoy each other’s company and we wanted to make it work. I really fancied this guy, and I knew he was everything I would ever want in a partner. However, I was skeptical about the whole long distance idea.
Yet, here I was discussing the terms of a relationship that would span across oceans. I remember sitting at the airport with my then boyfriend while he waited to board his plane to Germany. We promised to be in touch, to talk every day, and to make plans for a reunion very soon. The mood was somber mujeres calientes canadiense to say the least. As I drove away from the airport that evening, I wondered if we would keep true to that promise.
The year 2010 was a busy one for both of us. We managed to see each other every three months and traveled to destinations where we hiked, climbed, and watched many a sunsets together. In between our meeting times, we spoke on Skype, via email and text. We made sure we updated each other on our daily lives. Nothing was too minuscule to share. We respected each other’s time and appreciated the fact that we each made adjustments in our days just to be able to talk to each other. We knew they all meant well but we were still frustrated with their lack of understanding.
Just a year prior, I had told a guy who lived in New York, (same continent and time zone as me) that I did not believe in long-distance relationships
Somehow, we knew we wanted to be together. The logistics though were a bit convoluted. He could not seem to find a job in the US, and I could not seem to figure out what I would do in Europe; but we persisted. Being very pragmatic people in our lives, we sat down and came up with a project. The goal was to be together. We just have to figure out how. He continued sending resumes in the US and I did some research to see what I could do in Europe. Then we decided to think “outside the box”. What if we both relocated to somewhere new, a neutral ground where neither one of us had the advantage of familiarity, friends, or family? And so the idea to move to Australia was born.
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