A Love Across Borders:
A Journey of Two Hearts

In 2017, two souls from different corners of the world—Indonesia and Vietnam—found themselves in Australia, far from home and surrounded by new faces. It was in a supermarket, of all places, where our paths first crossed. Working side by side, we exchanged smiles, then conversations, then something deeper—our hearts began to connect.

By 2018, we faced our first challenge: language.

The barrier was real, but our desire to understand each other was stronger. We learned, not just words, but new perspectives, new cultures, and new dreams. Every conversation, every laugh, was a step closer to something beautiful, despite the odds.

In 2019, we started sharing more than just stories. We shared our visions, our goals, our dreams of the future. The hardest part, though, was realizing how much we wanted to stay together in this new world we’d made our own. And so, we made a decision—to fight, to stand strong, and to make Australia our home, together.

Then came the storm—2020 and 2021. The world was hit by COVID, and everything seemed uncertain. Jobs disappeared, lockdowns kept us apart from friends and family, and the weight of financial and health struggles loomed large. But even in the darkest of times, we never let go of each other. We supported one another through it all, finding strength in our love, growing closer with every trial we faced.

By 2022, the world began to heal, and so did we. We came out stronger, our hearts more certain than ever of our place in each other’s lives. We didn’t just survive; we thrived, continuing to pursue our dreams, side by side.

Then, in 2023, our journey reached a milestone. Kelly earned her permanent residency through her studies, and together, we used our savings to buy our very first home in Sydney. Our dreams had taken shape, and the future was finally within reach.

In 2024, we took a trip to Bali—just the two of us, a moment to pause and reflect. It was there, surrounded by the warmth of the sun and the beauty of the waterfall, that I knew it was time. I got down on one knee, looked into her eyes, and told her how much I loved her. Through all the ups and downs, through every challenge and triumph, I knew I wanted to spend forever with her.

And when she said “Yes!”—I knew our story turning into a new page from this moment.