Dong was a year above me and was helping to lead the college induction programme where we met. We quickly became close friends, spending our days studying in the library, playing sports, and sharing meals with our friends. On 10 March 2016, Dong asked me to be his girlfriend (by the longkang in our boarding school), and that was the beginning of our journey together.
Just six months later, Dong moved to the UK to pursue his medical career. A year after that, I followed, settling in a different city. What followed was six years of long-distance love. Despite unreliable Wi-Fi, countless Skype calls, and the many miles between us, we always felt close and would never get bored of updating each other about our days. Saying goodbye at airports and train stations never became easier, but we knew our future together was worth every farewell.
In 2022, we finally moved to the same city and began building our life together. We also became proud parents to Taro and Gingko – just to clarify, they’re cats!! Having fallen in love with Newcastle, we decided it was where we wanted settle down, and we bought our first home together in 2024. Later that year, during a trip to Lake Como in September 2024, Dong (finally) proposed!
From college sweethearts to building a home together, our journey has been filled with patience, perseverance, laughter, and love. And now, surrounded by our family and friends, we can’t wait to celebrate the next chapter of our story with all of you.
