One evening in April 2019

One evening in April 2019

One evening in April 2019 a fellow French student suggested a meal for all the French learners! This was the first time that we spoke! We struck up an easy conversation and chatted happily throughout the evening. We both took a shine to one another, but thought nothing further of it. Beckie organised some further social events at the language school over the next few months, which we both attended; we started chatting with one another on social media, and gradually formed a friendship. Rachel joined Ed’s Advanced French class, and we started talking more and more each week. 

We EVEN resorted to doing our homework in an attempt to impress one another! 

By the October, Ed plucked up the courage to ask Rachel to go for a coffee with him (despite the fact that neither of us drink coffee - Ed loves hot chocolate, and Rachel tea!!) We had our first date at a café opposite the language school; and chatted until the café kicked us out!

We quickly arranged a 2nd date, and a3rd, and a 4th and the friendship just blossomed. 

Our 6th date was the FFLC Christmas party where we almost got our first photo together as our team won the quiz; however, a recount meant that we actually came 2nd. We spent lots of time together over Christmas, including New Year’s Eve! 

On the 18th of January after the FFLC conversation café, we finally held hands for the first time. It was truly magical. 

11 days later, before our French class, we shared our first kiss together. We're amazed we weren't late for class!!

The romance grew and grew, and we enjoyed finally revealing our romance to our French class after several weeks of trying to make them guess. 

2 months later, and our fairy tale romance hit a bit of a stumbling block. Corona virus restrictions meant we could not see each other in person any longer. 

We did the only thing that was left to us, and decided to give Skype dating a go! Initially we thought we’d only be apart for 3 weeks, but in the end it was for 159 days……  However, we used this time apart to grow emotionally stronger, and developed our fantastic bond. There was many a date discussing grammatical differences across the various languages we study! Rachel even started Spanish with FFLC so we could flirt together in another language.

We found each other various romantic gifts and ways to share new experiences together. We did a virtual cruise of the river Seine, a tour of Paris; and afternoon tea. For Ed's birthday, Beckie arranged a lesson for us where cooked Crème Brûlées using a French recipe! 

We finally legally reunited when we could form a bubble; and we surprised our classmates and teachers when we showed up to class on the same screen. Some newer classmates hadn't even realised we were a couple!!! 

Our romance is still blossoming as are our language skills. We now do Portuguese together; but we still manage to not do our homework. 

“La distance n’est rien pour nous, quand quelqu’un est tout pour nous”