Let’s #DayalItBack to August 2016 when I moved to Chicago from Sweet Home Alabama for grad school. This was a huge change for me and as exciting as it sounds, I was very nervous about moving to a big city. Chicago brought many things into my life with its delicious food, hype brunches, high surfaces, but most importantly, friends that became family in a short amount of time.
Many of you know it doesn’t take much to get me to do something – I’m always “down for whatever.” Well the night I met Gowtham, I was (easily) convinced by one of our mutual friends to go to a “hangout at G’s apartment.” Naturally, I agreed, but also wanted to confirm whether Georgia Tech can be fun ;). Little did I know I would immediately click with this loud dude (with voluptuous hair) who always wants to play games and can really work a vacuum!
From there, the rest is history…
- Serena
Flashback to January 2017 when I moved to Chicago after living most of my life in Atlanta (no doubt, ATL will forever be home). Chi had a LOT to offer - diverse food, foreign neighborhoods, and unpredictable weather to name a few - but it didn’t take long until I found my roots in this unfamiliar land.
In Atlanta (and more broadly, the Southeast), it’s common to joke that everyone you knew or would meet is 1 to 2 social connections away. I’m not suggesting I’m a social butterfly (and trust me, I hate butterflies!), but I was eager to spend my weekends in Chi meeting as many people as QUICKLY as possible. A few short months and many potlucks, brunches, and hangouts later, I was introduced to a new face one evening in March.
No question, Serena and I immediately hit it off and to my dumbfounded surprise, she had even grown up in Alabama! While she’ll argue that she initiated the text conversation first, it was my wit that got her number in the first place!
- Gowtham
#DayalItForward to August 2019 when I took Serena to Banff National Park, Canada in search of 3 things: decompressing from work, stunning views, and an active hiking adventure.
We spent our first night at a luxury mountain lodge outside of Banff nestled in the Canadian Rockies. The outdoor Nordic spa alternating between hot saunas and cold plunges was definitely a treat!
The following morning started early but within reason. I had meticulously planned (imagine multiple spreadsheets with biweekly calls) that we promptly leave the lodge at 4:30 AM, drive to catch the morning sunrise at Moraine Lake at 6:15 AM to “start our hike”, pop the question at 6:25 AM, and finally surprise her with our families at 7:00 AM at the top of the rock pile. With little margin for error, sounds easy, right?
Truth be told, it all worked out in the end despite some challenges that morning:
- finding Moraine Lake accurately even after losing reception from our phones
- securing parking in the tiny lot outside of the lake (normally very crowded even at this hour)
- searching for a flat rock for me to get down on a knee (you’d be surprised how hard this was!)
- locating our parents in the midst of the above with no receptionIt was the happiest day of our lives.
(and no, we did not go hiking)
- Gowtham
To our fam, we truly appreciate the unconditional and limitless love from you all throughout our exciting journey. We LOVE you all, and look forward to creating new memories!
- Serena & Gowtham
To our many supportive friends, ya'll are crazy...but we wouldn't want it any other way!
- Serena & Gowtham