Our Journey Together

Surprise Date Night — Cooking & Dancing

On October 24th, 2025 at 7:00pm, we're going to a combined Spanish Tapas cooking class and Salsa dancing lesson! Make sure you're free that evening and get ready to see me break it down after smashing 18 plates of tapas. Below is the provided description of the event:

Make some Tapas inspired dishes while you hang out and learn to Salsa dance Latin style with Instructor Jon!! Mix and mingle, and have fun while cooking a meal you won’t soon forget! Join us for a night of food, salsa dancing, socializing and fun!

Menu: Tapas:
- Homemade Red Pepper Garlic Bread accompanied by Chimichurri Salsa and Garlic Shrimp
- Crispy Albondigas & Asiago Dumplings with a Bravas Goat Cheese Sauce
- Mixed Salad with a Paprika Red Pepper vinaigrette Dressing
- Homemade Ice Cream for Dessert made by us.

👨‍🍳 🍴 🥘

First Pier Talk

The greatest two hour talk on the pier with a baking pan of my life.

Anecdote

The first night I got a glance into what your world is like and I couldn't have been more enthralled. Truly what a magical night and who would have thought that it would have turned into such an amazing relationship and friendship.

First Date

Some of my thought from that day.

Some of my thoughts

Firstly, you looked absolutely stunning that day, and I couldn't believe that I was lucky enough to be seen in public with this beautiful women. Secondly, I remember being nervous that you wouldn't actually like me, and that I always had to watch what I was saying. But as the night went on, I felt more and more comfortable around you and it's something that I love so much about you. You have such a welcoming and warm personality that just soothes whoever you're interacting with. It makes every conversation with you so pleasant. Its something I really value about you <3

Our Anniversary

From a random dog that almost ruined the day to a impromptu UNIQLO shopping trip, it was the day I was 100% positive I wanted to ask you out.

Some of my thoughts from that day

I know you remember that talk at Colectivo in Andersonville. You told me all about your last relationship, I told you all about mine. If you remember the moment right after you told me all about Ozzy and that other guys name I don't remember, and I was just sitting there staring at you and thinking. It was in that moment I said to myself that tonight would be the night for me to ask you out. That doesn't mean I wasn't nervous as hell, which is exactly why Sean gave me that generation pep talk before I asked the question.

So Many Dates

October with you was genuinely magical. The consistent Saturday dates, with perfect weather, and just getting to know you more and more and falling more in love with you every time we hung out.

Some of my thoughts from the photo above

Something I'm not sure if I've every told you happened the day after we did the pottery date and went to Chinatown. I took the picture of you laying on me with the skyline in the background and I was talking to Sean about it. I specifically remember telling him that I took a photo that I would look back on for the rest of my life, and it was the photo you see above. Something about that moment, with the music playing, the loud ass train going past, and a beautiful and charming girl laying on me as we looked at the skyline is something I will genuinely remember for the rest of my life.

Some more dates and the onset of unease

It's insane how magical the Fall semester felt last year. And whats really funny about it, is that I was concious to the fact that it was amazing. So often I am looking forward to the next thing, but the past Fall I recognized how special it was.

Some more of my thoughts from the 5k picture above

Firstly, the picture on the left of us after I ran the Hot Coco 5k. I will on this more later, but it was astonishing to me that you so effortlessly just went to support me during the race, even thought it was so early, and you had to take the stinky redline to get there; so thank you for always supporting me in everything I do. I will touch on this more during the long-distance section, because that's when it was the most apparent and the most needed for me.

The Dark Days

December was an interesting month. You and I both knew that we would be starting long-distance soon, making every moment we had together so bitter sweet. I feel we made the best of the time we had.

I want this timeline to be somewhat of a window into my thoughts throughout our last year, and this one specifically about December

I feel like you were a lot more transparent about your feelings about the long-distance aspect than I was. I wan't to iterate that I was always 100% confident in us, but that doesn't mean it was going to be enjoyable. I feel that this specifically came out the night I met your friends at your hometown and we went to the bars, I was so anxious about going abroad in general, about having to be without you for months, and as I said that night, about the unsureness with what I would be doing that upcoming summer. With all that being said, I want to thank you for being so patient with me during this time, and for always being so supportive. I know I wasn't the easiest person to be around during this time and I'm sorry I wasn't more transparent about my feelings. It's unfortunate that it was the most apparent the night I met your friends, but you were so understanding and kind about it, and I will always be grateful for that.

The start of long distance

January was a whirlwind of emotions. The excitement of starting a new chapter, mixed with the sadness of leaving you in Chicago. But I felt we were always connected, even if it was hard.

Something that was so nice about talking to you abroad

I don't mention this enough and it was a such a big factor for me actually thriving in London and in Europe in general. You were always so supportive of me and you always felt like I had someone, even if it was 3,000 miles away. The fact that I felt so supported by you during the distance is amazing, crazy and something I'm so grateful for. You were always someone I could talk to, and always someone I knew would be there for me. So thank you for being my rock during that time.

Hannah in London 🇬🇧

I just want to say that when I was making this, I got to look back on so many pictures of us together in London and it made me so happy. What a fun time.

Yay you visited yay :)

Truly just what a fun weekend. I wouldn't say I was ever nervous about us while abroad, but it definitely sucked being so far away from you but when you had to opportunity to come visit me it was so unbelievably fun and they are some memories that I will cherish forever. I don't have much to say about the month of February other than most of it sucked because we were apart from you (except when you were in London) and saying goodbye to you in London was genuinely one of the most painful things I've ever experienced in my life. But just exploring new places and traveling with you is so fun and I can't wait to do it again. To many more adventures together <3

Actual Hell

I would say that this month was mostly filled with stress about internships for me and looming sadness because I wasn't seeing you for 5-8 weeks. But what's funny is that we still ate good food that we ordered for each other from 3,000 miles away. Like how did that even happen. Okay back to March 2025.

Thank you

As I mentioned above. March was super stressful for me because I was applying to internships and getting denied, I felt like I wasn't doing enough, and I was doubting my abilities in the field. I specifically had a brutal crashout on the rooftop of my building in London and I was tweaking tf out. With all that being said, you were always and have always been so unbelievably supportive of me throughout everything and I truly can't thank you enough for that. Abroad was stressful for both of us (and amazing at times) but you were always so kind, supportive and loving towards me and I will always be grateful for that. I know I don't say it enough, but thank for being there for me, and for loving me.

Italy 🇮🇹 & the final days of long-distance

First of all, sorry I was grumpy the first day in Italy. You did not deserve that, I was being a debby downer for no reason. Sorry :(

Some of my thoughts from Italy

First of all, it was amazing seeing you. Secondly, how and why did we go to Italy. The fact you just skipped some classes and flew across the world to see me again, with so little convince or planning is insane, and I love everything about it.

Something else I wonder about is if it was better that I had to run to catch my train. Because the goodbye in London was so hard, the fact we had to rush maybe helped with some of the sadness of leaving you. I still shed a couple tears on the train, or maybe a lot of couple of tears, but thats neither here nor there. I do think that if we had a longer goodbye, it still wouldn't have been as bad as London because I was coming back home in 3 weeks, instead of the 2+ months that I was expecting after the London goodbye.

And when I'm back in Chicago I feel it

Something I didn't want to tell my Mom about me moving back to Chicago instantly, was that I really just needed to be close to you. I couldn't just be an hour drive after being a 7 hour flight away. You maybe already knew that, because it was probably pretty obvious, but I still wanted you to know.

The Pho date on May 4th

That first date we had, getting pho in Chicago was kinda strange. It was weird that the long distance was over in the sense that it was something we had to think about the entire time of our relationship, up until that point. It was finally done, we could just be in Chicago together, with no more thought of long distance again.

Chicago summer and dates are back!

That Filipino bakery was so fucking good. We need to go back, or maybe we should go to Kasama, that place is supposed to be insane.

Just a thought 💭

I don't have a lot to say about June other than that it was amazing. You've mentioned how every time someone asks about Me, you just say that its going good and theres nothing eventful going on, its just perfect. That's how I would explain my lack of thoughts for this month, it was just perfect. Maybe the lack of anything crazy is a sign of the stability we have together, and I love that.

Welcome to Corporate America

We were both super corporate. Went on runs together, got stuck on a train on the way to the Cubs game together, hungout with Ross together, it was a great month.

Summer is so fucking awesome

It still very much feels like summer, because its 80 degrees in October for some reason, but just the thought of this time, going on fun dates with you, going on runs, and doing our little corporate internship lives is something so fun and so special. I know I will be thinking about it for years to come and I will always cherish this time.

The end of Summer and the start of senior year

Remember when you had Winnie? That was fucking crazy.

Some thoughts from August

August was great. We finished out internships. You got a dog... it was really something. I've mentioned this before, but I always try to be present and I always wish I was more present and August is a month I realized this the most. This is our final year of school together. It's very likely that this is the last fall semester I will ever have so it's more important that its ever been to be present and soak in every moment. It's something that I've been thinking about and will continue to think about, because before I know it I'll be 60 years old and I'll be wishing I was a senior in college once again. A senior in college with my amazing girlfriend.

Fall in Chicago with Han, what more could a boy ask for?

I don't have many thoughts because It was so recent, but I do want to say that I love fall in Chicago with you. The weather is perfect, the city is perfect, and you are perfect.

🌇 🍁

Fall in Chicago is amazing. Fall with Girlfriend is amazing. Fall in Chicago with Girlfriend is the best thing ever. I hope you've enjoyed the updates to the website and I hope you'll look at it every once in a while. You make loving you so effortless.

Love, Nathan

So Many Dates

Below is the very first picture I have of you and the most recent picture I have of you. Its kinda poetic that they're both in the Art Institute of Chicago.

Some final thoughts

I don't have much more to say that wasn't in the letter or in this timeline view of our relationship. But I do want to say that I love you so much and I am so unbelievably happy that we found each other. You are my best friend, my rock, my partner in crime, and the love of my life. I can't wait to see what the future holds for us and I am so excited to continue building our life together. Thank you for being you and for loving me. I love you so much Hannah.

First Pier Talk

First Date

Our Anniversary

So Many Dates

Some more dates and the onset of unease

The Dark Days

The start of long distance

Hannah in London 🇬🇧

Actual Hell

Italy 🇮🇹 & the final days of long-distance

And when I'm back in Chicago I feel it

Chicago summer and dates are back!

Welcome to Corporate America

The end of Summer and the start of senior year

Fall in Chicago with Han, what more could a boy ask for?

One year anniversary

Surprise Date Night — Cooking & Dancing

First Pier Talk

Anecdote

First Date

Some of my thoughts

Our Anniversary

Some of my thoughts from that day

So Many Dates

Some of my thoughts from the photo above

Some more dates and the onset of unease

Some more of my thoughts from the 5k picture above

The Dark Days

I want this timeline to be somewhat of a window into my thoughts throughout our last year, and this one specifically about December

The start of long distance

Something that was so nice about talking to you abroad

Hannah in London 🇬🇧

Yay you visited yay :)

Actual Hell

Thank you

Italy 🇮🇹 & the final days of long-distance

Some of my thoughts from Italy

And when I'm back in Chicago I feel it

The Pho date on May 4th

Chicago summer and dates are back!

Just a thought 💭

Welcome to Corporate America

Summer is so fucking awesome

The end of Summer and the start of senior year

Some thoughts from August

Fall in Chicago with Han, what more could a boy ask for?

🌇 🍁

So Many Dates

Some final thoughts