Hmm, where to begin ....
During my senior year of college, I met an exchange student from Sydney, Australia. We had a sales class and International marketing class together. Her name is Alissa. She is from Elanora, Australia and graduated from Australian Catholic University. She was in my Sales class but helped out my International marketing group with our project on Australia (no that wasn’t a coincidence, I thought she was cute so I encouraged our group to get Australia as our country 
After a couple “meetings” to help with our project, we went out a few times. We both had very different life paths at the time. She left the US in December of 1997. From that time, we e-mailed occasionally keeping up with each other. She went on to graduate and work for the Australian Newspaper in marketing, while I went on to work for Walt Disney in their college program, participate in the Semester at Sea program, and then move to Charlotte, North Carolina where I worked for two companies including being the Director of Fundraising for a YMCA.
During our e-mails, I would always ask when she was coming back to America but thanks to a 21-24 hour travel distance it was tough. Then during the summer of 2001, she e-mailed me and said that she had been accepted into a Seaton Hall International Studies program and was coming back to America! Woohoo. It had been almost four years since we last saw each other. So, we made plans and met in Boston on July 4th.
It was an amazing trip. It was very difficult to see her board that plane to return to Sydney but at last she flew away. We then e-mailed very often (daily) but still had to contend with the distance and our other lives.
Alissa was very unhappy working for the Australian and decided she wanted to move to London. Her mom is English so she has something called “Right of Abode”. Essentially, it means that she can work in London for an unlimited amount of time rather than the two year “Holiday” visa that most Australian’s receive.
So, she moved to London in the spring of 2002. Finally, we were in the same hemisphere. I traveled to London to see her in the summer of 2002 and things were great. Later, we decided to start dating. It was incredibly difficult emotionally because we were so far apart but thanks to really cheap phone cards and occasional trips across the pond made it bearable. She came to the states in December to spend the holidays with me and my family.
Then on Valentines Day, I flew to London and surprised her at her office. We then flew from London to Paris (now 6 hours of jet lag that afternoon; made our way to the Eiffel tower where I asked her to marry me … she said yes.
Once I returned to Charlotte, I submitted my resignation to the YMCA. Gave them 9 weeks to find my replacement (which they still haven’t done). We filled out forms and submitted the necessary paper work so that I could get something called a “fianceé” visa. It’s a special visa that allows us to get married in London. She has a great job with AXA (financial company) UK as the brand manager.
Time went by slowly and quickly from that point. In late March, I moved most of my stuff back to Morgantown, West Virginia, then stayed with a good friend Connie until late April. During these final weeks, I sold my car, took stuff to charity or gave it to friends. One of the oddest experiences I have ever had but very refreshing after a while.
Spent some time with my family and friends in Charlotte during my final weeks there and finally boarded a plane to London, England on April 28th arriving on the 29th.
So, yes … I’m now living in London, England
There is a set amount of time the British Government requires people to be in the country before getting married. Eight days upon arrival and then 15 after the first meeting to fill out paper work. Alissa and I followed the calendar appropriately and stuck to their agenda.
On May 24, 2003, she and I were married at Merton Hall before family and friends. It was a great little ceremony and very moving. Then a quick reception (a mid-afternoon dinner) before she and I flew to Edinburgh, Scotland - about0 minutes from London - for a couple days on our honeymoon.
Once we returned, we spent a little time with her family before they flew back to Sydney and then went to Croyden - a little city near London - to complete the final leg of my visas. After a good 5 hour wait, I cleared the immigration process and can now work in the United Kingdom on a two-year spouse visa.
Well, there you have it. I’m in London and married.
