Today started off like any other Monday. I had the day off and The Penpal came over to visit when she was finished work. Usually she is in a pretty good mood, but tonight she was a bit down.
Over the past few months we had been talking about my return to Canada when I finish teaching English. I asked her to move to Canada with me and she accepted. Over the weekend she finally talked to her parents about the idea, and they were not at all excited about the idea of their only daughter moving half way around the world to live with her boyfriend. She said that her parents wouldn’t have any problem with the idea if we were married, but wouldn’t approve if we were just dating.
At this point I had a lot of things go through my head: the Penpal and I have been together for a few years now, and we were very happy. I had been in some longer relationships before, but none of them felt the same way as my relationship with The Penpal. Despite growing up in very different cultures, we just connect and compliment each other.
I thought about returning to Canada without her and instantly felt a pit in my stomach. I thought about being home and starting another search for a girlfriend and that felt even worse. The Penpal was my companion, someone I wanted to be around for a long time to come. Someone I never wanted to be without.
I don’t know how long I sat there thinking about all of these things. But eventually I decided to do something. I took her hands in mine and told her that I didn’t want to be apart from her. Ever. She told me the same thing. I then asked her if she would marry me.
She accepted!!
This was not the proposal I ever imagined before. There was no fanfare, no romantic dinner with a ring cleverly hidden away, no beautiful scenery, and I didn’t have a ring. It was just the two of us sitting on my floor couch, the first piece of furniture we shopped for together, in my oddly shaped room in a company apartment. There is something to be said giant romantic proposals, but in this case the opportunity was there, I took it, and I am very VERY happy that I did!
Holy crap I’m engaged!
Drinking in Japan 