I first met Kristien online using ICQ. She’s the one who sent the first message–maybe the single decision that changed both our lives for the better. After a year of chatting we decided I would fly to Belgium for our first meeting in person. You can glean hints of places we’ve vacationed by looking at my photo gallery. Vacations were much easier when we both attended college. It’s become harder now that we both work. After that first visit we both knew the relationship would mature into something special. Since we are currently engaged to be married, I would say that’s very special. Apparently we’re doing something right because in March 2005 we will have known each other for five years!

The stigma of online dating has lessened significantly, so it’s not embarrassing to say we met on the Internet. The unusual circumstance is that we live in different countries. People wonder how we communicate. In the beginning it was all through ICQ chat. Sometimes I used my Eggcam, which was nice but we quickly switched to making weekly phone calls. Leading up to our engagement the in-person visits became more frequent, as did the phone calls. It wasn’t to “check-in” but just to feel a little closer. Trust in each other kept our long-distance relationship going strong.

So, why are you sharing this when your info page says that you respect privacy? I asked myself that question before I wrote this entry and knew the answer immediately. I wanted to give this journal a background, or in other words, a story that others could relate to and understand. There won’t be many entries like this one. The details are personal. If you want really personal details–intimate and mundane–there are plenty of “my daily life” kind of blogs on the Internet.

Before I started this project I asked Kristien if it was okay with her. She wondered how much of our story would be posted for everyone to see. I gave my word that it wouldn’t get personal. So, it’s with pleasure that I introduce “Immigrating to the USA: Welcoming my Belgian fiancée”.

This entry was posted by Matthew Crumley on Saturday, November 13th, 2004 at 9:58 PM. Matthew is currently a software developer who works on simulation devices and their user interfaces. In his spare time he reads the news, dabbles with code, is active in his homeowner association, and enjoys life with his wife and pet terrier. You can leave Matthew a comment or trackback from your own site. Follow comments to this entry via RSS. Explore other posts marked with these tags: immigrate, pre-arrival.