What I Wonder When I Wander: What’s fate got to do with it? (The story of us)
Posted on 12. Aug, 2012 by Jess in LGBT, Travel Reflections
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We have so many loyal readers out there, a community of people who read everything we write, get in touch with questions, offers to host us in their cities, words of encouragement or suggestions for places to travel to next.
But we have realized something…
Just the other day, some new friends asked us the story of how we met. As we told them our story, we realized that this is something we haven’t shared with all of you who have been with us here for so long!
Here it is…The story of how Dani and I became a couple. It might just be a bit juicier than you expect.
Dani and I met in 2006 in her hometown, a small city in Germany called Erfurt. It’s the kind of city most foreigners don’t travel through…much less move to.
I did just that, however, in 2003, when I followed a previous relationship all the way from Guatemala (where I had lived for two years) to Germany. When that relationship fell through a couple years later, I had already managed to make a little home in the middle of a country where I didn’t speak the language, know a soul or have a clue about the culture.
It took about a year for me to learn German well enough to start making a circle of friends outside of the teachers at the schools where I worked as an English teacher. It would take Dani and I another year and a half after that before we ever spoke – even though we had been spending almost every single day together since I moved to the city.
You see, Dani had just returned from working in Ibiza, Spain in 2003 and started an International Business degree at the school where I worked. Every day throughout those years, I taught English to dozens of classes as Dani studied, though our paths never crossed until that fateful day when I stepped in to cover for their Business English teacher. The students responded well and when a spot opened up the next year to teach the class in their final year (with a nice per-hour pay raise) I accepted.
This turned out not to be one of my favorite groups to teach and while Dani was always nice, she sat in the back, cool as a cucumber, seemingly more interested in her newspaper or sending text messages from under her desk (can’t fool me!). Her grades were great with little effort, and I would have never thought she was interested in the class, let alone in me.
When Dani tells the story, she says she was already interested the year before, from that one day I taught her class. I was so nervous that day I barely remember a thing. This was because as the teacher, I was actually YOUNGER than a few of the twenty-four girls in the class and had less (read: NO) business experience at the time, either. Although Dani was, and not surprisingly still is, younger than me, the difference between us is only 14 months. This meant that the relationship was never exactly one of student-teacher, but more like I was working and she was studying and that happened to take place in the same place.
When I tell the story, I say that I still had no idea she was interested when, at the very end of the school year, her friend and fellow student had arranged lunch for the three of us to thank me for some extra exam help I had given a few of the girls. I still had no idea that summer when Dani and I started hanging out as friends, either, because, Dani being Dani, she remained totally relaxed about it all – until she absolutely couldn’t hold it in any more. She planted one on me at some point, and, well, that is obviously when I knew how she felt and how I felt, too!
Not six weeks later, however, I was scheduled to fly to England and leave Germany, quite conceivably, forever.
The funny thing was…so was Dani.
Completely independent of my plans, Dani had signed on back in April to study in northern England for a fourth year to complete her Bachelor’s degree. Four months earlier, in January, I had enrolled in a Master’s course in the south of England.
As fate would have it, we were both moving to England within one week of each other. What may have just been an exciting, confusing, small-town summer fling became a long-distance relationship, then a live-in relationship, and finally, this. Us. What we are now. The GlobetrotterGirls. Living our dream traveling the world.
What I wonder is just how much of a role did fate play in these wanderings of ours? Me, ending up in random German city, Dani moving back from Spain, neither of us knowing each other for almost three years and then our lives coming together on so many levels all at once…
And another thing I wonder…is there anything else you would like to know about the two of us? Let us know!
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53 Responses to “What I Wonder When I Wander: What’s fate got to do with it? (The story of us)”
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We are Dani and Jess, a German-American lesbian couple who decided semi-spontaneously to take our work on the road and travel the world in April 2010. Digital Nomads, Street Food Junkies, House-sitters, Vegetarians, Street Art & Photography Lovers, Hotel Enthusiasts. Find out more about us here
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Kim
12. Aug, 2012
Cute!! I just finished reading Paulo Coehlo’s “The Witch of Portobello” the final line is: Love just is. Fate plays a role, and so many other things too, but in the end it either is or it isn’t. Thanks for sharing you two!
Kim recently posted..The Little Things Are the Big Things. Plus, I’m Scared. Plus, plus, It’s My Birthday.
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Oooh, Kim, I read that a few years ago but don’t remember the line. You’re right though, either it is, or it isn’t. In our case, it is
Daryle
12. Aug, 2012
Sounds like it was meant to be! Thanks for sharing your story.
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Thanks Daryle, glad you enjoyed our story!
RenegadePilgrim
13. Aug, 2012
So, what you’re saying is I need to move to Europe to find a girlfriend?
I love your story about how you met and got started with traveling. I appreciate how random things can appear sometime…
RenegadePilgrim recently posted..Hotel Review: Napili Kai Beach Resort
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Ha ha Heather! I think there are plenty of girls for you to meet anywhere, but I can recommend Germany on that front
Glad you enjoyed the story!
Laurence
13. Aug, 2012
Beautiful story guys, thanks for sharing
I really should make more of an effort to learn German 
Laurence recently posted..In photos: from the Facebook Page (Edition ii)
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Laurence, I can say that learning German was really hard at first, but people are so so pleased when you try to speak it that there is tremendous opportunity to really learn it. My number one piece of advice on that – listen to the mistakes Germans make in English. If it’s grammar or idiom-related, you can guess that is how you say it correctly in German.
Tricia O.
13. Aug, 2012
What a sweet story! I absolutely believe that you were fated to be together, and the other decisions you made prior to meeting each other brought you together. Love it!
Tricia O. recently posted..Trimming the fat
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Aw, thanks Tricia! It’s funny how life works, sometimes, isn’t it.
Bethaney Davies
13. Aug, 2012
What a sweet story. Definitely fate. Sometimes relationships are just meant to be and the universe does an awful lot of work to line itself up to get two people in the right place at the right time.
Bethaney Davies recently posted..Three Things I Love About Bangkok
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Amen Bethaney!
It took a lot of seemingly random events to line up for the two of us to meet!
jan
13. Aug, 2012
I most definitely believe in fate. More so as I get older. My husband is a great procrastinator, with the attitude “if it is meant to happen it will”. This I found very annoying because I liked to make things happen. But we have had wonderful things happen for us just because of fate. What is meant to be, will be!
jan recently posted..Fantastic Friday – Framed – Castelo dos Mouros Ramparts
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Jan, that’s an interesting point – Dani and I have become so much more laid back since we started traveling with the idea that if it’s meant to be, it’ll happen!
Amanda @ Farsickness
13. Aug, 2012
What a great story! I definitely believe in fate and love the long chains it creates in our life taking us to the most wonderful people and places
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Thanks Amanda – it has definitely been a wild ride!
Sharon
14. Aug, 2012
Isn’t it fascinating how events happen to place us in just the right place and time at just the right moment? Gives you a feeling of great cosmic wheels turning, ever so slowly – but every so precisely…
Thank you for sharing this very personal and tiny glimpse into your private life together – I enjoyed reading it and knowing a bit more about “how the story began…”. I’m such a romantic at heart and I do love a good love story…
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Sharon, thanks for commenting – glad you liked it
We felt like it was about time we told the story!!!
Denise
14. Aug, 2012
Hehehehe…this is pretty much how my boyfriend and I met. I had just returned from one month in South Korea, and he was in my first class on the Monday I started teaching English again. He was interested from the start, while I became interested when I realised he was interested! 3 months later he was off home…and well…I just left with him.
Fate is a beautiful thing
Denise recently posted..How I changed my life for the better, not by turning to perpetual travel, not overnight
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Wow Denise, that’s so cool! I love that we share this
Literally three months after I got to know Dani we were both living in England and committed to each other!
Cole @ Four Jandals
14. Aug, 2012
You girls are too cute! Great story and definitely fate
Cole @ Four Jandals recently posted..Running with the Bulls Video
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Tee hee thanks Cole
Arti
14. Aug, 2012
What a fairytale! Fate had a huge role to play in it!! Beautiful pics of you two together!
Have a wonderful day
Arti recently posted..A Stroll in the Hibiya Gardens, Tokyo
Jess
14. Aug, 2012
Hey Arti, thanks so much. I am sure Dani loves that you used the word fairytale
she loves that kind of thing!
Scott - Quirky Travel Guy
14. Aug, 2012
Teacher and student fall in love? How scandalous! This was a great read – thanks for sharing your story.
Scott – Quirky Travel Guy recently posted..Driving above 12,000 feet in Rocky Mountain National Park
Jess
17. Aug, 2012
Scott, we were surprised that not more people commented on the scandal aspect! glad you enjoyed it anyway
Ashleen Moreen
14. Aug, 2012
Wow, I like those adventures you had! and you two are so gorgeous!
Jess
17. Aug, 2012
Aw, thanks Ashleen
*blush*
Loz in Transit (Synchronicity)
14. Aug, 2012
Synchronicity and Serendipity are key ingredients for happiness – When everything seems to fall perfectly into place. It was definitely something that I felt on my year Abroad.
For myself you can feel that thrill in the moment but the true impact is only felt when the larger story unfolds. That chance encounter with a person might lead to a few memorable moments and nothing more or become your life partner and ultimately changes the course of your life.
I’m really happy you guys found each other.
Loz in Transit (Synchronicity) recently posted..Camp Geres, near the border of Portugal and Spain
Jess
17. Aug, 2012
Thanks Loz – I once heard a saying that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. Guess we see how Dani and my chance encounter worked out!:)
Laura
16. Aug, 2012
I think things always seem to work out and it looks like it did for you!
Laura recently posted..The Roles We Play in Life
Jess
17. Aug, 2012
Thanks Laura! The saying goes – everything always works out in the end. If it hasn’t worked out, it’s not the end!
Jeremy Branham
16. Aug, 2012
Very interesting story and unique. I am not sure how many student – teacher relationships work out where someone doesn’t end up in prison!
However, you need to work on your communication skills if you were together, had a fling, but didn’t have a clue that each of you was planning to go to England. Hope the communication is better now!
Jeremy Branham recently posted..Songs from the road – my life through travel and music
Jess
17. Aug, 2012
Interesting comment Jeremy? We were 25 and 26 when we met, so probably no prison time. And, we absolutely knew that we were moving to England, since we were friends before the fling. It just felt like fate is all. Since we work and travel full time together now, I think our communication is pretty good.
Karen
16. Aug, 2012
Hi Dani and Jess
I think Fate has everything to do with it! My husband and I definitely wouldn’t be living the life we are today if the universe, or fate, or grand design, or whatever hadn’t played a part. One of our stories of fate is here: http://livinginlaos.com/2012/05/life-in-laos-blog-is-born/
Congratulations. Maybe we will meet someday, somewhere in the world.
Karen recently posted..Conversations in Luang Namtha
Jess
17. Aug, 2012
Hi Karen – funnily enough, I am fairly certain we met when we were in Luang Namtha! We came in and had cocktails at your cafe? http://globetrottergirls.com/2012/05/33-things-we-love-about-laos/ We wrote about your cocktails here (check the comments out, from Forest retreat
)
Carmel
17. Aug, 2012
What a sweet story. It’s such a gift to find someone you can not only live your life with, but share your dreams.
Carmel recently posted..Perfect Flaky Croissants
Jess
17. Aug, 2012
Thanks Carmel! We still can’t believe sometimes how this all ended up
Justin (Lotus Artichoke)
19. Aug, 2012
Dani and Jess– I love these kinds of stories. You both always have such heart-warming, honest and real accounts from your life and adventures. So inspirational!
Justin (Lotus Artichoke) recently posted..Veg Pakoras & Apple-Tamarind Chutney
Dani
19. Aug, 2012
Thanks so much for the kind words, Justin
Sabrina
20. Aug, 2012
Oh, how cute! Sometimes it’s nice to think that things happen for a reason
TammyOnTheMove
21. Aug, 2012
What a lovely story! You two are soo sweet and definitely meant to be together! Thanks for sharing your story with all of us!
TammyOnTheMove recently posted..A typical Saturday in the Penh
Dani
22. Aug, 2012
Thanks so much, Tammy
Your kind words make me blush 
Edna
26. Aug, 2012
How cute, thanks for sharing your story! I recently realized I haven’t posted the story of how I met my fiance either, I should do that…I can’t say I believe in fate, but I am nonetheless happy with how things sometimes turn out quite amazingly for us travel couples!
Edna recently posted..Wenlock, or How I learned to stop laughing and love the mascot
Dani
27. Aug, 2012
Thanks so much, Edna! And you should definitely share the story of how you met your fiance – everybody loves a good love story
100 places to visit before you die
30. Aug, 2012
Thanks for sharing your story, hope you have many more great adventures together
100 places to visit before you die recently posted..10,000 Pinterest followers reached!
Dani
30. Aug, 2012
Thank you! Yes, I hope we’ll have many more adventures together but I am sure we will
Sam
01. Sep, 2012
That’s a really wonderful story; thanks for sharing! I think it’s great how open you are about your lives on this blog; it really makes your reading it so much more personal, and I really appreciate that.
And Jess, it still makes me laugh that students think they can text under the table without us teachers knowing. No one just stares so concentrated down at their crotch like that otherwise!
Dani
06. Sep, 2012
Thanks so much, Sam! It took us a while to be open about these things (on the internet!
) which is why we really appreciate feedback like yours!! And hey – I was pretty good at blind-typing back then.. not sure how good I’d be nowadays though with all these touch-screen phones 
~Dani
roz
23. Sep, 2012
Lovely story, girls. Thanks for sharing. My girlfriend and I are off to Central America in December. We are a writer and a designer and also do some blogging (I’ve just started a blog about life in Byron Bay in NSW, Australia), so it’s inspirational to see your site and read about your travels. Good on you for making the dream a reality.
Sam
20. Nov, 2012
Great story girls
I like how so much of what you two write is just so honest, open and down to earth. It was lovely to hear your story.
Sam
20. Nov, 2012
p.s. I know you both speak a myroad of languages, but did you speak english or german with each other when you first met?
Dani
21. Nov, 2012
Thanks, Sam! We actually spoke both – German and English. Jess is so fluent in German that I thought she was German when I first met her! When we moved to England, we started to speak in English with each other more and more.