Where are you from and where is your significant other from?
I am from Dallas, TX and Mattia is from Milano.
Curator's Note: everything is bigger in Texas right? Well, except Genia who is like the cutest little thing ever...!
Where and when did you meet your significant other?
It’s so strange and weird to say because it has a bad rep...TINDER!
A friend and I took a trip to Europe last year for my 26th birthday. At the time, I had been single for a year (literally not dating anyone) and moved to NYC a year before that! We landed in Milan on my birthday (Aug 15th). Sadly, we didn’t realize it was a holiday. So we decided to download Tinder and see what these European boys were like. Honestly, I don’t remember swiping right on Mattia ahaha. Pretty much we matched on my birthday and it’s a sign of fate.
Another note* we went on a Tinder double-date because my friend matched with someone as well. It was funny and awkward.
Curator's Note: YES YES YES YES. THIS MAKES MY LIFE COMPLETE! A Tinder double-date in Milan during the week of Ferragosto. Only good things can come of this.
Who made the first move?
He did! He asked via Tinder to “grab a coffee”. I literally was thinking “this dude wants coffee at 7pm?” but here we are, a year later!
Curator's Note: he actually used "grab a coffee"? I'm impressed.
Where did you initially think he was from?
This is going to sound like such an American comment but I didn’t think he was Italian because of his brown hair/blue eyes look. We know the “Southern Italian look” tan skin and brown eyes. I asked him maybe about 3 times in our first meeting, “Are you sure you’re from Milan?”.
Curator's Note: I love how American that sounded but it's just the truth, I think people generalize what "Italians" look like and then they see a blond Italian and their minds are just blown.
What was your first impression of him?
Honestly, I didn’t think anything! I had my mindset of “okay, this is just one date and this guy lives in a different country” mentality.
Curator's Note: LEGIT.
Dish on the first kiss!
He took me to a hidden gem in Milan. I was kind of nervous because I didn’t know him nor the place. So we sat down, just started talking and BOOM we kissed!
Curator's Note: BOOM? More like BOW CHICKA WOW WOW.
Where do you live now?
I lived in Milan for 4 months during the summer but I am in the States working on my student visa and Mattia is back in Milan.
Have you learnt each other's languages?
Mattia for SURE has learned English. His English has improved so much over the last year. We speak in English, which is sad sometimes because I need to learn Italian. But I mean, I can get by in Italy.
Curator's Note: yes, stop speaking English to him. He needs to regress like my husband who I no longer correct on purpose so that sooner or later I will surpass him in linguistic skills in Italian bahaha.
Any advice for mixed/long-distance couples?
Communication is KEY! Talk everyday, send pictures, send voice messages. It’s easy to feel insecure because ya’ll aren’t physically together so TRUST each other. Also, have patience, you both are two different people from two different places!
Curator's Note: OMG I LOVE YOU, you wrote "ya'll" and I say that too, let's be best friends forever.
Submitted by Genia.
Here's how you can connect with her:
Instagram: @champagnegena
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 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.
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