Happy Monday lovers and lovers of love! Today I'm sharing a story with you that I basically sought out myself because I'm a huge Instagram stalker and when I saw a photo of Chloe of Scarlet & Hues
and her Italian boy, I was instantly struck by 2 things. The first was how cute they were, but the second was how much he reminded me of my husband (I know, creep alert right?!). But back in the day, Massi used to have long hair that he would tie back and I guess there's something about that hair and that nose that is so classically...Italian! I just love long hair on men so much and somehow it just "works" on Italians. I swear I think deep thoughts, although not highly evident at all times! Anyways getting back on topic, thankfully Chloe was up for telling me all about her love story so without further suspense, here's how she ended up in Alps of Italy from the beaches of Sydney, Australia...!
Where are you from and where is your significant other from?
I’m from the beaches of Sydney, Australia & Andrea's from the Alps of Italy, in the Aosta Valley.
Where and when did you meet your significant other?
I’ve always had an obsession with Italy. Ten years ago I lived in Sicily where I attended school, and in those 6 months abroad, I learned about a culture I needed to be a part of. After returning to Italy a few times and seeing the country as a traveller, I was left with a desire to manifest big things and make a life there. It was New Year’s Eve 2014 when I decided to write a list of things to achieve for the following year. One of the items on that list was to advance my Italian language skills, another was a tall, dark, handsome Italian man who possessed a shy confidence and green eyes. A few weeks later I found myself placing an add on the Gumtree website (being the Australian version of Craigslist) in search of an Italian/English language exchange. Within that same day, the universe delivered not just the one, but two of the things I wrote for (except for the green eyes, Andrea’s are brown, but they did just fine).
Who made the first move?
Him. As Italian men commonly do (wink, wink) by our third date he mentioned that I’d be the mother of his kids one day... (I don’t know how that didn’t scare me away, but it didn't!).
Where did you think he was initially from?
Under the circumstances we met, I already knew he was Italian, however, I very clearly had no idea where the Aosta Valley was. In the second week of dating, I embarrassingly took him to a place I called “a mountain range” in Australia, ignorantly claiming their grandiose beauty (homes for ants in comparison to the Italian Alps!).
What was your first impression of him?
I instantly felt a connection that I can’t really describe... I just wanted to be around him all the time. But, there were definitely two huge barriers holding me back. Language & location. It was hard to go past the superficial level of conversation & without the magnetising help of falling in love, it would have been hard to remain interested. We also had two separate lives on each side of the world - 24 hours and two plane trips illusioned itself as a long & expensive gamble for young love.
Where do you live now?
For now in Turin, Italy.
Have you learnt each other's languages?
Yes, & continue learning every day.
Any advice to “mixed” culture couples or couples doing long-distance?
Give it a real, chance. I said “no” to our love the first time. I followed my career to a winery in Western Australia, believing it was more important. Luckily, he didn’t take that as final and secretly flew back from Italy to surprise me after work one day. (I’ll save that story for chapter two). Now, we are married, and I couldn’t imagine who or where I would be without him. Throwing your heart in over your head is worth it, even if you’re not 100% it’ll work out.
That is where the adventure and sustenance of life is - It’s in the heart.
Submitted by Chloe.
Here's how you can connect with Chloe:
Website: www.scarletandhues.com
Twitter: @scarletandhues
Instagram: @chloe_cristallini
Facebook: www.facebook.com/chloethomasita
Vi auguro tante belle cose. xoxo
If you enjoyed this post, you may also like to "dare un'occhiata" at all of the Love Story Lunedì. There are so many amazing stories to read about so make sure you're all caught up. And should you want to share your own story or know of a couple who would, please get in touch.
Finally if you're a bit of a hopeless romantic (which we know you are because you're here reading these love stories), read ten very short stories which are now available as a cute collection in my first eBook: This Sweet Life. You can download it for FREE in my store! Or read the included pieces as individual posts:
Creative Writing: Call Me Baby
Creative Writing: The Butterfly Effect
Creative Writing: The Letter R (Explicit)
Creative Writing: Dear Italy (A Love Letter)
Creative Writing: Airport Arrivals
Creative Writing: Tanqueray and You
Creative Writing: A Thousand Lives
Creative Writing: A Sunday Kind of Love
Creative Writing: Perfect Strangers in Switzerland
Creative Writing: Rooftops and Rome
Creative Writing: The Morning After in New York
Creative Writing: Mulberries in Sicily