MARIA'S VERSION OF THE STORY

The first time I saw Nick was him sleeping next to an airport trash can while we waited to go on our study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic. I remember thinking, “Out of all the places, he chose to sleep there??”. It was soo early in the morning (like 4 am) and the whole group was exhausted. After we checked in and arrived at our gate, I sat down with my belongings and again noticed the same guy looking for a seat and hesitantly sat next to me. Finally, he said, “Hi my name is Nick '' and I introduced myself too. He immediately fell back to sleep.

Fast forward and finally, we arrived in Santo Domingo. The group boarded the guagua (bus) to go to Jarabacoa and he sat next to me casually saying “hi” again. It was almost a three-hour drive so we just talked and got to know each other. We found that we had so much in common. We both are family-oriented individuals, went to A&M, were band geeks, fans of Harry Potter….. This guy was pretty cool!!! He was funny, dorky, and would do silly things that would make me smile (still does). Not to mention, incredibly smart and toooootally handsome! (still is) We spent two weeks in the DR with our group serving the community, immersing in the culture, learning, and having fun. Through these experiences, I was able to see his kind and caring side which sparked feelings inside towards him. By the end of the trip, we had become so close that I knew this guy would be a part of my life for a very long time. The rest is history.

I am beyond thankful to have met Nick during this trip. We were both in the right place at the right time. He is the love of my life and the person I want to grow old with. I love you Nicholas and I can’t wait to start our future together!

N&M