Two good friends of mine, Gabo from Colombia and MarĂa from Peru, recently got married in Germany. In this article, I will share their love story, the challenges, and the adventures they overcame to reach the weading.
I DISCOVERED THEM
MarĂa started out as my flatmate, and over time, we became friends. We began organizing group cooking nights where we’d chat and share meals. One day, MarĂa invited Gabo, a cheerful and well-intentioned guy with whom I immediately hit it off.
It didn’t take much to notice that Gabo’s eyes sparkled every time he exchanged glances with MarĂa. However, MarĂa either didn’t realize it or didn’t want to admit it.
At a party, I decided to encourage Gabo to take the next step. The idea was simple: dance with her and create a magical moment to express his feelings. What happened next, probably due to alcohol, looked more like a wrestling match, where Gabo and MarĂa ended up losing their balance.
THE SPARK
One day, I dared to ask MarĂa if she could ever see Gabo in a different light. Her response was a firm “No,” so I encouraged Gabo to move on and explore other possibilities. However, Gabo continued to maintain a “friendship” with MarĂa, though he clearly had feelings for her.
Over time, each of us packed our bags and moved to different cities, including Gabo and MarĂa. Nevertheless, from time to time, most of us would meet during summer jobs for students.
One day, MarĂa called me with the news that she and Gabo were together. “Didn’t you say never?” I responded immediately. Perhaps being apart made her realize how important he was, or maybe they finally had that magical moment. Whatever the case, the news made me and our friends very happy.
ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES
If I were to list my Latino friends in relationships in Germany, probably less than 5% have a partner from a similar culture or with a common native language. During one of our usual cooking gatherings, I asked Gabo and MarĂa about the advantages and disadvantages of their relationship compared to most Latino-European relationships.
For both, the main disadvantage was adaptation. Even though they both felt comfortable in Germany and worked hard on improving their German and integrating into society, they felt limited in their personal space, as everything at home was in Spanish.
However, going through the same integration process in Germany gave them an advantage—they could empathize with each other and offer mutual support during tough times, such as studying for exams or moving to a new city to start over.
LOVE’S TRIALS
At the beginning of their relationship, Gabo and MarĂa lived in different cities. They only saw each other on weekends, during holidays, and especially during the pandemic. What ended many relationships actually strengthened theirs, leading them to decide to keep walking life’s path together.
Gabo had been set on marriage from the start. Every year, he brought up the topic, and perhaps his greatest show of love was following MarĂa to a city where they could finally live together and make his proposal a reality.
MarĂa, however, faced a more difficult test. She forgave Gabo for a near infidelity that never materialized. One night, Gabo confessed that he had almost crossed an invisible line that could have changed everything. This caused MarĂa to lose trust in him, something that took a long time to rebuild. In the end, it was Gabo’s honesty that tipped the balance in favor of continuing the relationship.
CONCLUSION
Gabo and MarĂa’s story spans more than 10 years of ups and downs. In the end, they said their vows on November 15, beginning a new adventure together. Beyond continuing to integrate into German society, they are now starting a family life far from home.
Finally, dear reader, when it comes to relationships as a migrant, one never knows the nationality of their future partner with certainty.
