Haven't updated for a while at all but it's gone between not wanting to and being in a low place to being a bit busy and not having the time to write it down. J and I are engaged...and I'm going back to grad school! I visited in April for our first year anniversary and he proposed the day I got in (April 6) after lunch with his family. It was sweet; his whole family knew and were waiting for my answer. I should have known it was coming but we had just discussed waiting and me not talking about it anymore a few weeks prior (because he wanted to make it a surprise). It was a surprise!

I visited for just about two weeks and it was such a nice and fun visit. I love his family so much and it was so nice to spend time with them as well as him. I can't wait to visit again...although I don't know if I'll have the money for a July-August visit as I'm hoping. My parents said they would visit as well, as our parents need to meet before anything else is planned. I am planning to stay for Christmas on a long stay, about 4 weeks, and my parents would come for 1 week, directly after Christmas.

And...I can visit for 4 weeks around Christmas because I was accepted to a doctoral program on the East Coast with full funding! I'm so excited for the opportunity, as is J because my goals and dreams are becoming a reality!

While I wait to register for classes and prepare to move, I've been babysitting to make ends meet. Living back with parents and babysitting after completing a master's degree isn't what I envisioned but I love my family and am glad I'm doing something. The year started out with me having nothing going - moping around and wishing I was with J. At least with having a job and things to hope for I'm able to take my mind off of not being with him.

J and I did decide to postpone trying to get him to the US for a visit as an English student, we'll try again next year once he is serious about studying the language and I'm situated in a location. Right now, I'm using my English teaching knowledge (I taught basic English to immigrants in a previous job) to give him weekly lessons. It's weird to do so over the internet and he doesn't have the greatest discipline for it because it's in addition to his full-time job and engineering classes but hopefully it will help a bit.

I am so excited with everything right now! The last year or so has definitely been a hugely different and evolving experience for me and us. I am so happy that I have J in my life and can't wait for the years to come. I am so lucky that he is so supportive and so excited to be supportive of him as he continues with his own education and looks to the future! He is amazing. <3

(Pictures didn't show the first time so I added an album to my profile page.)