In February 2017, I was in the heat of student elections. My partner and I were visiting various student groups to self-promote. Around Valentine’s day we were invited to speak at the Asian American Student Association. It was a particularly tough year, with lots of aggressive and cunning strategy from the competitors.

After giving our spiel, I saw they were planning on doing origami that day so I figured I’d stick around and hang out a bit taking a seat at one of the center tables. Shortly after, a girl approaches me with a casual smile looking at me. As soon as I see her, a shot of adrenaline goes through me and my mind starts racing.

Is she a spy? Why is she approaching me like this? Maybe she is with one of the other political parties. I ought to be careful…

“Is anyone sitting here?” She casually asks with a calm and confident energy that immediately confirmed my fears that she had an agenda.

Removing my backpack from the chair I say as casually as I can “no no, please have a seat”.

After a few moments, we strike up a conversation that is surprisingly pleasant.

“She is good” I think to myself. “Too good. I need to be extra careful around this one.”

About a week later, while tabling on the Library plaza, I see someone walking towards our table. It was the same girl from before.

“Hi” she says with the same casual confident smile. This lady was dangerous.

“I can take this one” I say to my partner.

“Hello again.” I reply.

“Would you like to go get some dinner sometime?”

Stunned, I just stare at her. She wants to go on a DATE with me?

After a few moments I say “uhhh.. ya sure when and where are you thinking?”

We set up a time and she says goodbye.

My partner Liz turns toward me, beaming. “Looks like you got yourself a date!”

Still dumbfounded by what just happened I try to process it.

This girl has some of the most calm, confident energy I’ve ever seen. Something about her… I am scared.

We go on the first date and I try to keep it cool. I ask lots of questions to keep her from learning too much about me. But as the night goes on, I realize I am becoming more and more intrigued by her. What is it that this lady wants?

A week later we run into each other again at a mutual hangout. Simultaneously cautious and intrigued, this time I ask her on a second date. I take her on one of my favorite hikes and she tells me about how she dances in the Cambodian community.

I start to get a mental picture of her. Kind, calm, and caring but passionate and determined. There is a slow burning fire in her eyes - the kind that doesn’t seem like it can easily be extinguished. Suddenly, I realize how much I want her to succeed. The feelings of skepticism melt away and are replaced with a fluttering feeling in my stomach.

After that day, our relationship flourished. She visited my apartment almost every day. She showed me how to make Khmer food and I showed her how to make Japanese food. She showed me her favorite songs and I told her why mine were better. That summer we stayed out late, played volleyball, and watched movies in the evening.

In August we skipped class and road tripped to Idaho to catch the total Solar Eclipse. And on the way home, she was sleeping in the passenger seat. I looked at her and felt a stinging in my eyes. My heart felt so full.

Four years later, on December 20th, 2021 I proposed to her in Saint Augustine on the beach with both our families. It was not the picturesque proposal I envisioned (a hurricane level storm had blown in and temperatures were pushing freezing) but was all the more memorable because of it.

Khmer Ceremonies