LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Jade and Daniele

I've never been more obsessed with a couple on Love Story Lunedì than I am with these two: Jade and Daniele. Their story is like Friday Night Lights meets Lizzie McGuire, I mean it's literally EVERY TEENAGER'S DREAM COME TRUE. It could be a movie: hot Italian exchange student meets equally gorgeous new girl at a high school in North Carolina during senior year, she steals him from all the other girls (and boys), their first kiss is lit perfectly by football stadium lights in the background, they wear color-coordinated outfits to prom and live happily ever after. Actually, that's not the whole story but it's a pretty damn good synopsis. I also love the setting of North Carolina as well, it makes it more like Friday Night Lights meets Lizzie meets Nicholas Sparks minus the sad parts. Read it here in 3, 2, 1....! 

Where are you from and where is your significant other from? 
​Answering where I’m from has always been a difficult question, but long story short I was born in Germany and I was mostly raised in the United States. However, my mother is from Iloilo in the Philippines. (You could see how that gets a little a confusing, huh?) My boyfriend on the other hand, was born in northern Italy but is the son of two Sardinians.  

Where and when did you meet your significant other? 
My boyfriend came to the United States for an exchange year in 2015. I had just moved to my new high school in North Carolina a few months prior to his arrival, so we often joke that fate brought us together.

Who made the first move? 
I made the first move; simply because I knew that a plethora of other girls in the school were gawking over him already. So, I knew that I had to swoop in and make my move. I am also pretty direct when I know what I want, and I made it very clear that he is what I wanted. 

Where did you think he was initially from?
It was hard to not know that he was Italian given that every single girl (and guy) was speaking about the “hot Italian exchange student”. To be completely honest, I am sort of oblivious when it comes to physical differences between ethnicities, so he could have been from anywhere. His accent on the other hand, definitely made it clear that he was from Italy.
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What was your first impression of him?
My first impression can be explained by the fact that my jaw was on the floor. He had the classic suave, direct, and completely enticing characteristics that every movie exaggerates about Italian men. I was so nervous because the first time we met was after his soccer match. It was like the slow-motion running from Baywatch, but a little sweatier and slightly more clothed. When he actually approached me, the direct and passionate part of me hid in a corner, while the quiet and shy part took over. He was so charming, and I had never experienced anything like it.

Dish on the first kiss! 
​(In case you're wondering...yes, I BOLDED the WHOLE THING. It's all worthy of BOLDING!) 
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The first kiss was totally unexpected, but simultaneously the best surprise ever. It was after a soccer match and I thought it was going to be a sweet goodnight cheek kiss; but, he brought me in closer and kissed me. The night was dimly lit by our high school’s football stadium lights and it was as if the cheering fans in the crowd were also cheering for us in this moment. (Total Friday Night Lights moment.) Right after he had to sprint off to his host father to go home and I also sprinted off to go into my car to freak out to myself [as one should do]. It is still the most memorable experience of that school year.
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Curator's Note: Jade provided this caption for the photograph below...READ IT AND WEEP (you will literally weep when you read what Daniele wrote to Juliet, I'm just a big 'ol softie when it comes to these things). 

"When I came to visit Italy for the first time and he took me to Verona. We left our mark in Casa di Giulietta and Dani left a sweet note."
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I think we can say that there's just something about this gesture that results in magic. ​(click to read another story with a connection to Juliet in Verona).
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Where do you live now? 
Since the fall of 2017 I have been studying in Rome at John Cabot University! It is still a 3-hour high-speed train ride away from Daniele where he studies architecture at Politecnico di Milano, but it is tremendously better than being an ocean apart with a 6-hour time difference. I love Italy and living here has opened my eyes to so many new things.

Have you learnt each other's languages? 
Daniele is fluent in English. He is even better than myself at times and he has mastered an American accent. His English was at a pretty high level when he arrived in the States, but he has grown so much. In my case, I take Italian courses at my university and most of my friends speak Italian so I’m making some progress. But I really want to become fluent soon so that I can carry on a full conversation with Daniele’s mum. She doesn’t speak that much English (though she tries her best and is learning more every day!) and I’d like to be able to speak to her and relate to her in that sense. ​
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Any advice to “mixed” culture couples or couples doing long-distance? 
Being a mixed-culture couple is such a rewarding experience. Daniele and I enjoy learning about each other’s cultures and traditions. I think the best advice I could offer is that having an open mind and willingness to understand is the key to not fighting, thus the key to having a happier relationship. Arguing and bickering can be helpful, but when it is because one person in the relationship is not being open minded, it can lead to very dangerous thought processes. In regard to long distance, Dani and I would try to call each other, both in video and audio, as much as possible for our schedules. Since we were both new to the concept LDR when we began, it was hard to adjust to that style, but as time went on it was clear that those small moments of intimacy are what kept us sane during rough moments. ​

Submitted by Jade. 

Here's how you can connect with Jade and Daniele:
Instagram: @jadeburr & @daniele_florenzano
Facebook:  jade burr & daniele florenzano
Other: dan.flr.photography ​

A huge, heartfelt thanks to Jade and Daniele for sharing their love story with us.
​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 (the running total including today's is TWENTY-TWO, ZOMG!) 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. 

​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Chloe and Andrea
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Coral & Riccardo
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Rachel & Riccardo
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Daria and Francesco
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Briana and Dami
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Kayla and Luca
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Sarah and Michele
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Bailey and Carlo​
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Gregory and Stefania
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Sofie and Emilio
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Isabel and David
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Jasmine & Massi
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Tiffany and Adam
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Angela & Davide
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Kristie & Graziano
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Brittni & Alberto
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Maddie & Gio
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Jennie & Davide
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Lauren & Luigi
LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Rebecca and Leonardo
​LOVE STORIES by Questa Dolce Vita: Jennifer and James
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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 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. 

​Creative Writing: The Perfect Day in Italy (not in the eBook)
​Creative Writing: Call Me Baby (not in the eBook)
​Creative Writing: The Butterfly Effect (not in the eBook)
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​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