Question about first time meetings?

[LivingInWonderland]

Hello everyone!

I have a question for those of you that started off your relationship LD, before you actually met the other person, and about your first time meeting.

What is it like, meeting the person you have been dating, for the first time? I ask because I am in a relationship with my bf, whom I have never actually met in person. And we are looking at the possibility of meeting for the first time this summer. We still have to talk things over with our parents and plan, and things aren't 100% official yet. But what is it like to meet the person you love, for the first time? Is it normal to be really nervous about it? I have no doubts about our relationship, and I know meeting in person will be great. But I'm so nervous! Were you nervous when you first met your SO? Was it at all awkward, or was it just as if the distance was never there and you knew each other in person all along? I have so many questions about all of this. Haha.

Another question I have is, what is the best travel option? There is almost 800 miles of distance between us. Neither of us have our drivers licenses yet, so we are looking at either having a parent drive (which may not work because we are thinking that I'll be staying at his house, and I don't think my parents would want to be there too. lol), taking a bus, or a plane. What works best for travel and what is easiest? I have never traveled like this before, so this is all very new to me. I'm also looking at having to travel on my own, too. Which is why I'm wondering what is easiest. I'm sure our parents will have ideas of their own and will be able to help out. But from your opinions, what is your preferred way to travel when you see your SO?

Thanks!

-Ashley

[aojeda50]

I don't think I was nervous at all.
If anything, I was more excited than nervous. I was impatient and excited to finally get to see him in person. I was also curious of how it would be.
I didn't wonder if we would actually work out once we got to know each other in person, I didn't think of the possibility of not liking him after the first visit. I was so convinced dthat it would just work out.
I should have been less naive about that, in my opinion, because there was that slight possibility that we might not have liked one another after all.

But it did work out. I saw him at the airport for the first time, and we practically ran towards each other and hugged soooo tightly. No nervousness, no anxious feeling.
Pure happiness. It was awesome.

Of course its normal to be nervous. You've never seen the SO in person. Completely understandable.

As for your travel question, personally, I prefer to fly.
Of course that's kind of my only option since my SO is overseas.
If I were you, I would fly to Arkansas. If you think you won't make it in a bus for 800 miles, then you're better off flying.
It's much faster, and I'm sure you can find good deals. You just have to do your research.

If you do choose to go with flying, check for tickets Wednesday night/Thursday morning. They're typically cheaper.
And try to fly in the middle of the week. Tickets are more expensive if you fly in the weekend.

[LivingInWonderland]

Thanks for the advice! That's good to know that plane tickets are cheaper during the week. I never would have known that otherwise.

I'm excited to meet him. I really am. But I tend to over think everything. So I can't help but be nervous. I'm sure it's going to be awesome though. We are hoping to meet up around our birthdays at the end of June, just because it would be neat to spend our 17th birthdays together. We'll have to see what our parents say though. My mom is very supportive of the idea of me going to Arkansas. But my bf still has to talk to his mom about it, and see what she says.

It'll be interesting, getting there. I have never been in an airplane before, so that'll be quite the experience. Haha

[Wicked Whimsy]

I was in a LDR with my SO for five years before meeting in person this past November. As I was waiting for the day to come and driving the 2hrs to the airport I was not nervous, only excited. Waiting in the airport the only thing I was nervous about is him being denied entry (which you will not have to worry about), but as soon as I saw him coming down the escalator I immediately started crying. It was a wave of emotion the strangest feeling I have ever felt in my life. Nervous, excited, happy, awkward, all at once. I literally felt like I was in a dream and that feeling lasted until we made it back to the car where we could be alone and It all settled in. All I could do Is smile, cry, and stare at him! lol We didn't even hug or kiss until we were alone, but I think if we both weren't so incredibly shy we would not have had that problem. The strange dream like state lasted for about 45minutes but it only took about an hour after that to feel completely comfortable with him again, the same as we have been on Skype and phone all these years just a million times better because we can really see hear and feel each other. I think the experience is different for everyone but in the end is completely worth it. I wish you the best of luck and safe travels!

P.s. don't worry too much over the plain ride its like a bumpy bus ride.

[LivingInWonderland]

Aww! That's really sweet! Congratulations on being able to see each other after such a long time! Five years is so long. I've known my boyfriend for almost a year now, and even just that amount of a wait is driving me crazy. But it gives me hope for our LDR, after seeing other couples on here making it so long, without seeing each other or being together.

I'm interested in seeing how our first meeting will go. Neither of us our very shy, so I'm thinking there will be lots of hugging. And probably crying on my part.

Bumpy bus ride..... while being thousands of feet in the air? Sounds scary! lol

[Wicked Whimsy]

You're right, it is a long time! I have yet to find someone who took so long to meet for the first time. But it definitely was not easy and I did come with a lot of baggage! lol But that's what makes us so special is that we have made it through things half way across the world what a lot of couples can not survive face to face. And that stands true for all LDRs, if you're hearts are true, you're relationship will be stronger than most because you endure what many can not.

Your experience first meeting will be one all your own and nothing anyone says can really prepare you, but I swear it will be amazing! As for the plane ride, I have only been a few times but it really was like a bus ride. Only really bumpy when you're taking off/landing or on a smaller plane. I know it can seem frightening but you have a better chance of getting struck my lightning than getting in a plane crash.

Best wishes!
-FloridaLovesEngland<3

[Unicorn26]

Oh wow Wicked Whimsy that's so long to wait!!! I thought I had it bad waiting 2 and a bit years.....I'm sure it's going to be worth waiting for though but patience was never my strong point. Welcome to LFAD, reading your reply has given me such hope and a much needed boost!

I am in Devon England too. I hope you make it over here one day, Devon is really beautiful!!

[Niamhy]

We had known each other a year before he came to meet me, with more or less daily skype calls.

I was really nervous actually. He came to see me in my home city and I went to the airport to meet him. I arrived before him so I spent about 15 minutes a nervous wreck. Then he came through customs (almost walked right past me!!), I made some wise crack about him being late, gave him a hug and he kissed the side of my neck.
After that I relaxed and everything was pure bliss. There was no awkwardness between us. His mother even called him and asked him if he "liked what he saw" :P
Even to this day, I still get nervous when we're travelling to meet up, although it is more of a anxious nervous. I am just so impatient to be with him again.

As for travelling, we always fly as we live in two different countries separated by an ocean. It is the only option really available to us. If booked early enough in advance it's pretty manageable. There have also been some last minute trips which were booked like 1-2 weeks in advance because they were cheap. It's worth looking into alternative airports in the country also. When I first went to his country, I flew into a city quite far from where he lives. He came down to meet me and we had a mini-holiday in the south of the country before heading to his city.