Ryan and Marianna were different years at different high schools in New York, but both played quizbowl, and knew of each other as friends of friends.
Years later, Ryan got a job in Chicago, where Marianna was attending UChicago.
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However, Ryan fell sick suddenly and landed in the UChicago hospital, where he asked Marianna to check out a book from the UChicago library for him... after Ryan was discharged, they went out on a proper date at Doc Films.
A few months later, Ryan moved with Marianna and her roommates in Hyde Park. We learned to cook food from each other's culture, and met some of each others' family.
After Marianna's graduation, we drove cross-country from NY to Palo Alto, where Marianna started her PhD. Ryan returned to Chicago, and we endured a few years of long-distance.
Ryan decided to quit his job and lease and join Marianna in California in March 2020. Then, COVID hit the US and our campus lease was cancelled. But the reunion was not to be denied: Marianna booked a last-minute flight to Chicago just before shelter-in-place took effect, and we went from long-distance to close-distance in Ryan's studio apartment (lease thankfully extended).
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Later that summer, we finally moved to Palo Alto as planned, spending many years enjoying the company of friends and the natural beauty of California together.
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After Marianna's graduation, we traveled the world, met Marianna's extended family, and drove cross-country (again)...
...to our newest chapter in NYC! We've kept a few Californian hobbies like hiking, and spend our time hanging out with friends old and new, exploring arts and theater in the city, and traveling.
