Sophia and Jonathan met while attending grad school at University of Texas for urban planning. They were in a small, group tour together on the first day and chatted the whole three hours. Being from opposite corners of the country and two different cultures, they connected on their heritage, urbanism, and a shared sense of adventure.

After a year of getting to know each other, studying, and cooking together, Sophia and Jonathan started dating. Brought together by a shared love of food, travel, and the planet, the couple learned to appreciate the deeper qualities of each other, including Sophia's free spirit and Jonathan's caring nature.

Jonathan goes to Miami for Thanksgiving and meets Sophia's family for the first time. He is warmly embraced by the Aitken family, and impresses them with his peanut butter pie.

Jonathan and Sophia use their long winter break to visit Japan. They have amazing experiences together including staying at an onsen in snowy mountains, traveling by bullet train, exploring buddhist temples, and experiencing world class art. It's the first of many trips they take together, including to the salt flats of Bolivia, Patagonia of Argentina and Chile, pyramids in Mexico, and white dunes of New Mexico.

Sophia and Jonathan graduate with their master's degrees on a hot and muggy day in Austin. Sophia and her family meets Jonathan's family for the first time. The joyful day is full of celebration and a prelude of many things to come.

During summer break, Sophia and Jonathan traveled to Bolivia for 3 weeks. Sophia was able to show Jonathan important parts of her history, culture and family. Of course, the trip wouldn't be complete without adventures, including a trip to El Salar de Uyuni where Sophia's brother Phillip got engaged to his now wife, Betsy, and to the Bolivian Amazon where they saw pink river dolphins, capybaras and caimans.

Sophia visits Seattle for the first time, and enjoys the beautiful San Juan Islands and Mount Rainier National Park. On that trip, Sophia falls in love with the Pacific Northwest, backpacking and cold swims in Puget Sound. They return to Seattle every summer to hike and camp in the mountains.

Sophia and Jonathan move in together, renting a house in Hyde Park, Austin. They relished furnishing the house together, and have become known in the neighborhood for their landscaping labor that has generated a haven for pollinators and small animals. They host often, making their home a central part of their social lives.

Sophia and Jonathan get engaged at sunset on Mount Bonnell, a quintessential look-out over Lake Austin. The seriousness of the moment was offset by the middle school girls' volleyball team excited shrieks from witnessing the engagement (video available upon request). The couple celebrated with a special dinner at one of their favorite restaurants in Austin.

To celebrate their engagement, Sophia and Jonathan hosted a party with their Austin friends. They transformed their backyard into an outdoor restaurant and living room into a dance club to celebrate their love. Dancing ruled the evening!