#longdistancedating

Hey Maybe Nots and Maybe Yeses! So sorry for the radio silence last week. I was off on a whirlwind travel adventure, collecting stories, getting lost in charming streets, and (of course) navigating the ever-interesting world of international dating. Buckle up, because this week's post is a juicy tale of missed connections, mixed signals, and a whole lot of me yelling at my phone screen.

The Long-Distance Lure: It all began last June, a classic Tinder swipe right that turned into a virtual pen pal situation. He was a foreigner visiting my country, but alas, fate (and my work schedule) had other plans. He was only here for a short visit, and our schedules never quite aligned. Despite the limited time, we kept chatting – a slow burn of sweet nothings that escalated in November. Here's where the red flags started popping up like confetti at a wedding:

Destination Dreams: He tried to convince me to change my vacation plans to his city (thankfully in the same country I was already planning to visit). Blinded by the potential of a meet-cute, I actually changed my itinerary accordingly!

Double Trouble: Fast forward to January, and things were getting serious (or so I thought). We're talking sweet nothings, and I've even booked a double room for our rendezvous. Yes, you read that right. Self-inflicted facepalm moment right there.

The Ghosting Games Begin: By the end of January, radio silence. He completely ghosted me for a month and a half! Excuses poured in later about work and trouble with his ex (due to having a child living in another country, no less). Despite wanting to scream into the void, I offered a listening ear if he needed to vent. Maybe I was falling for the potential, or maybe I was just lonely – either way, I was hooked, and it was bad.

The Back-and-Forth Tango: After establishing a boundary about communication (hello, 3-second voice note!), things went silent again. But wait, there's more! My weak spot (aka Instagram) led me to reply to one of his stories. By then I doubted he knew who I was – the girl with the upcoming trip and the paid-for hotel room! But no. Briefly, things rekindled, only to fizzle out once again.

The (Almost) Grand Finale: Fast forward to last week – my trip to his city. Complete silence from him since March 31st. Did he show up? Did he make an excuse (again)? He texted me while I was on the train, asking for the hotel info and promising to meet for drinks after work. Talk about mixed signals!

Two Nights of Passion (and Questions): He showed up, looking even better than his pictures. The conversation flowed, and after drinks, we ended up back at the hotel. We stopped in front of the elevator waiting for it. The air crackled with anticipation. Suddenly, his eyes met mine. Before I knew it, his lips were on mine, his hand holding my waist and back. The kiss was intense, passionate, hungry.

The elevator's ring broke the spell. We turned to each other, half smiles and rosy cheeks. We entered the elevator. With my back to him, I felt his arms wrap around my waist. His kisses trailed up my neck, searching for my lips. No need to say what happened as soon as I opened the door to my room.

He didn’t stay the night, but the following day, there he was and it was basically a copy-paste of the previous night minus the elevator scene (as we had company).

The Aftermath and the New Maybe: We texted for a while after my trip, but the messages dwindled. Now, here I am, confused and conflicted. Am I being irrational for wanting more from a long-distance connection?

Meanwhile, in Another Corner of the Dating Pool: To add another layer of complexity, I've been chatting with someone else from the same country as the previous guy (seems I have a type!). He's a sweetheart, but also comes with his own baggage.

So, what's a girl to do? Here's the thing, love warriors: This is where you come in! Should I wait for the maybe-something with Mr. Miscommunication? Do I give the new guy a chance, even though my heart might not be fully invested? Or is there a Mr. Right lurking around the corner who hasn't swiped right yet?

Spill the tea in the comments! Let's hear your thoughts on this long-distance drama and any advice you might have for a Miss Maybe Not who's feeling a little lost. 

Greetings, Maybe Nots and Maybe Yeses! I’m Back with a (Slightly Bewildered) Update!

First and foremost, mea culpa for missing another week. This time, no exotic adventures or charming strangers to blame. Life threw some curveballs, and I needed to take a step back, recharge, and mentally ground myself. Dating? Let's just say it was on hold while I hit the pause button (or not).

Meanwhile, in the Land of Mixed Signals: Speaking of hitting pause, that seems to be the theme with my potential suitors! Military Man reappeared at work for a whirlwind 30-minute visit. His words? "Just dropping by for a kiss." And kiss me he did (smooth operator, I'll give him that). No complaints there, but seriously, love warriors, a quick smooch and a dash isn't exactly setting the world on fire. Especially after what happened with Mr. Miscommunication.

After the kiss-and-dash act, Military Man's messages went radio silent again. He's a social media stalker extraordinaire, watching every story I post but offering zilch in conversation. I tried initiating a chat, seeking some answers, but all I got were question marks or monosyllables that left me more confused than ever. Did something happen? Crickets.

New Guy: The Plot Thickens... Across the border, things were (somewhat) different with New Guy. He was the chatty one, the one who kept the conversation flowing even during his own personal mishaps. Lately, though, the tide seems to be turning. He sent a photo yesterday, all dressed up and clearly ready for a night out. When I asked where he was headed, the answer was as mysterious as his behaviour today. His overall tone shifted – he seemed happier, but also distant. Did he meet someone special on his island? Or is there something else brewing he's not ready to share, and using the kids as an excuse for the sudden change? This whole situation has left me with some serious cold feet about my possible upcoming trip. New Guy does seem interested in me visiting, but his recent behaviour has thrown me off balance.

Dating Pool Blues So, love warriors, here I am, head spinning from the inconsistency of both Mr. Miscommunication and Military Man. The "whys" and "why nots" of their behaviour are enough to drive a girl crazy. Some days, I just want to throw in the towel on the entire dating scene. Some others, I think I should add up to the mess as these potential options feel more like backups than real possibilities. And some other days, the hopeless romantic in me fantasises about Mr. Miscommunication waking up and declaring his undying love (insert major eye roll here).

The Verdict? Still undecided. Stay tuned for the next chapter of this international dating adventure! In the meantime, send virtual hugs and maybe a shot (or bottle) of tequila (because, honestly, this needs all the help it can get!).

File this under: the internet can be beautiful.

Throughout Steven Thomas’s childhood, his father would joke that his mother had almost been British. Across the globe, Robert Morris’s mother talked fondly about the American soldier who romanced her during World War II.

The two men couldn’t haven’t known that one day they’d facilitate their parents’ first meeting in 71 years — by Internet video no less.

And the convo…

“Tell me. Do you see me?” he asked.

“No, I can’t see properly, no,” she said.

“Well, I’ll tell ya, I’m smiling,” he told her.

So this is a really big week for me. A lot is happening. 

It's officially exactly 4 weeks until I am home. This time next month I will be on a plane only a few hours from being back in America. 

Today is the 2 year anniversary for my boyfriend and I. TWO YEARS! I can hardly believe it and we've been friends even longer, since the first weeks of our freshmen year. He is studying in the Australian rainforest. Drew is really loving his program but it is really hard to stay in touch because he is so isolated. Dating long-distance is very hard; there is not getting around it. It won't be another two+ months until we see each other again. But it is worth it. My boyfriend is the best guy in the world. And we're so happy together. I'm also hoping to get a cute Australian animal plush when he finally comes home. Here is a link to his cool blog: http://sparksdownunder.blogspot.no/

Thursday is my 21st birthday!! In America, this is obviously a big deal. In Norway...not so much. Not only are people allowed to drink at age 18 here but alcohol is crazy expensive. A beer at a bar is $10. It's going to be surreal to go home to America and actually be able to buy the Jack Daniels that Tennessee is famous for. When my parents are asking me what kind of beer is good, I don't feel like I need to check over my shoulder before answering. 

It's going to be weird celebrating without my awesome Denison friends like I have the last 2 years. But luckily, I have some great friends here. And, even better, one of the awesome people from the business program over the summer is spending the weekend here. And "Skyfall", the new James Bond movie, comes out here on Friday! (sooner than America #winning)