I wish that we could call each of you to tell you all the details, but alas, that is not the way of society these days. We will however take this opportunity to share with you all our story.
Jamesson and I met at the San Agustin Language Institute in Trujillo, Peru. Jamesson was a student and I was teaching a different class, though I eventually ended up teaching his class for a few months too. We were friends over the course of about a year before I found out that Jamesson liked me. He likes to tell me that he knew right away when he saw me at SALI. I don't like to admit it, but I was a bit more skiddish about the whole love thing, and actually turned him down 3 times before I finally figured out that I really wanted to date him.
We began dating July of 2009 and enjoyed our time together in Peru until April of 2010, when unfortunately I had to return to the United States in order to pay off student loans that were starting to catch up with me. We said goodbye knowing that we weren't breaking up, but not knowing exactly what the future would hold for us. We began a (very) long distance relationship, and with our eternal gratitude to modern forms of communication were able to talk everyday. Over time and 5,000 miles apart, things became very clear that we were heading towards a life that couldn't be lived on different continents. Marriage became our clear direction.
I bought a plane ticket to Peru for Christmas and New Years and though our time together on this trip has been short, it certainly was long enough for Jamesson to squeeze in a proposal! Jamesson had been dropping hints that a ring was on it's way, but that it might not be ready yet because it's a ring that's been made by hand so it wouldn't be ready by new years. Ok, ok. I was disappointed, but would try to have fun that night anyway. On December 31st, we attended a party with our friends from church and rang in the new year in true Peruvian style- Fireworks, loud whistles, silly string, and crazy hats. At midnight, we were greeting everyone, eating grapes (it's a Peruvian tradition) and having fun when Jamesson led me to the outdoor patio. Our friend Julie slyly crept out when we did with a camera in hand and I knew before he said anything what was happening. He kept the proposal short and sweet by saying- Sorry I put you through a rough time by saying the ring wasn't ready, but Gillian- Will you marry me? And I of course said Yes as he put the ring on my finger.
We finished the night/morning celebrating with friends and family and having a great time! Our wedding will still be pretty far in the future (August 2012) to give us time to apply for the visas to get Jamesson up to the States, but we're so happy and content to know what we're heading towards. We want to say thank you to all of our friends and family who supported and encouraged us while we were dating and of course now to everyone as we get ready for marriage!
