Where are you from and where is your significant other from?
I’m from Heswall, in Northwest England, and Davide is from Dorga, in Castione Della Presolana, Bergamo.
Where and when did you meet your significant other?
We met online through Match.com, we were both living in Milan. I was there full-time, and he was commuting during the week!
Who made the first move?
I made the first move, I liked his profile and he liked mine back! Then he emailed…!
Where did you initially think he was from?
I knew he was from the mountains as it was on his profile and one of the first things we talked about was our mutual love of the countryside and the fresh air.
What was your first impression of him?
I admit the first thing I liked was his photo, he was square-jawed and handsome with a dazzling smile, I thought he was probably going to be a jerk because he was really good-looking, but when he came to pick me up on our first date he was a total gentleman, super-traditional and he said I looked ‘elegant.’ I noticed right away that he was using vocabulary an Englishman wouldn’t typically, and at 32 years old I was still getting a dating experience that was new to me. It made it really special.
Dish on the first kiss!
Our first kiss was at the end of our first date on an August evening, he picked me up and took me for a drink at Navigli, on the way home I made my move! But it was awkward! I honestly didn't know how much we had in common 'or' if he liked me. He's very extreme; been in the military, and he's heavily into BASE jumping, wing suiting, skydiving...whereas I can't get past one rung of a ladder! I wasn't convinced love was on the cards but the next morning I woke up to a text saying he woke up thinking about me!
Our second date was extremely intimate, he'd planned to take me to an Italian restaurant for dinner, very quiet, beautiful, only the owner playing the piano and bringing out special treats for us to help love along the way! We relaxed, got talking and hit it off, and the second kiss totally made up for it. We often laugh about it because as I began to get out of the car he pulled me back in so I was half out of the car half in it...both my feet on the pavement with all people walking past! We must have kissed like that for about 10 minutes! We couldn't stop! I felt giddy like I was 17 again!
Where do you live now?
After 2 weeks of dating in Milan he said we could go to England to meet my family if I wanted, and I was bowled over! He told me his dream was to live in Bergamo and he showed me the city a couple of weeks later. It was open, mountainous and picturesque like a storybook. The city was architecturally and historically beautiful and the air was clean and it was quieter, less people. I saw more of the sky in Bergamo than in Milan and it reminded me of home. After 2 months, I returned to England very abruptly, and he was in shock helping me to pack my things. He said he would move to my country for me even though it had never been a dream of his. To me that was one hell of a statement. He was so sure of what he wanted and I’d never had that commitment from a guy before. Especially to ‘move’ somewhere for me!
For two months we were in separate countries figuring out a plan. I told him I wasn’t leaving ‘him’, but I just didn’t like my life there anymore, and that I was committed to him too. We Skyped daily. It felt like we were in it together and I put everything into finding a job for both of us, in both countries, so did he. Within weeks I found a job opportunity in Bergamo and couldn’t wait to tell him. He immediately started to look for apartments for me and he was picking ones that he knew I would like. While we were looking he said he had been thinking, and that now ‘he’ wanted to move out from home and also be in the apartment with me, I was so happy but played it cool as I didn’t want to be disappointed if he didn’t mean it. It became clear with his fast actions and overseeing everything that we were indeed deciding and choosing our home together. He took care of everything.
About 2 weeks later we moved in together. Now we share an apartment in Bergamo and it’s the happiest I’ve ever been. It just works.
Have you learnt each other’s languages?
I am learning Italian and Davide speaks English fluently as he studied it in high school and again at Aviation school.
Any advice to “mixed” culture couples or couples doing long-distance?
Long distance is on a time limit, you know after so long things can change, and will. That’s why I literally worked day and night around the clock to secure our future and get us back together. I wanted to make things right, and put my cards on the table like he did.. Luckily for us, it’s worked out perfectly.
Submitted by Jennie.
Vi auguro tante belle cose. xoxo
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