Hello everyone,
It has been ages, nearly a year, since I last reached out to you via the Dichotomy. Many things in life have changed. I now reside in Korea, which should come as no surprise as I am known to have a liking for all things Korean. (You know, having a blog about Korean drama, Kpop, and all things Hallyu may have been a small hint.)
I’ve gotten to do some amazing things as a travel journalist, make some amazing friends in the expat community in the Seoul area, but there is one thing that has really changed for me: I met a boy.
For those who know my story, you have told me that it sounds like a real life Korean drama. For me, it just seems like real life because I see and feel the effort we put into our relationship, but you can decide for yourself.
We met via Tinder. Yes, Tinder. I previously had absolutely zero faith in the app and believed it just to be a tool for hookups. But at a friend’s urging, I posted a profile and said I was interested in something real. Three days later, after conversing about music nonstop, I met up for a first date with Alex, a man four years younger than me (yes, a noona romance for all y’all drama fans). Fluent in English, 6’0″ (183cm) tall, and knowledgable about music in a way that could only be rivaled by a musician (he’s a music connoisseur), we bonded instantly, talking through our evening at a jazz club in Itaewon. That was January 30, 2018 and the day we call our 일일 (il-il), or first day. We’ve been together ever since.
He is as chill in personality as I am energetic, but we both have the same core beliefs and love for laughing, music, and nature that keep us connected.
August 18, 2018, he asked me to marry him and I, of course, said yes.
Our long story short, this is how I hooked a Korean fiancé and he hooked an American fiancée.
A few questions that always come up:
- Do you speak Korean or English together? Mostly English. Only Korean if we’re with his friends.
- Did you learn Korean from him? Not really. He helps me with vocabulary and pronunciation, but I mostly learned on my own and I’m still not fluent.
- Can you speak Korean fluently? No, I can’t. Enough to get on while living here.
- How long have you been together? Almost a year!
There is my 2018 in a nutshell, I fell in love. Hehe. It was fun. Life was a bit hard, but I can deal with that with him by my side.
Anywho, Happy 2019 everyone! 새해 복 많이 받으세요!
Lisa Espinosa 
8 responses to “Goodbye, 2018, the Year I met My Korean Fiancé!”
Hi Raine,
I just finished watching Pasta- the K-Drama and came across your recap. I was so intrigued by it that I started exploring more of your blogs. Your life seems so lovely! I know I am a few years late to the party but congrats on everything. I still cannot believe you moved to Korea (I am guessing through work?) and found the love of your life. It all sounds so magical. I recently have been in a rut (not knowing what I want out of life, basically very unsatisfied in every aspect) and don’t know where to start to bring about any change. You made a life out of what other people might call just a fascination towards a place or a culture or an idea. I can only imagine how surreal it must feel to be living in a k-drama haha. How did you know that you wanted to be a travelling journalist and how did you go about it?
Well I would just like to sum up this unexpectedly long comment and wish you all the best for all your future endeavours and if you have any tips for someone like me, do share share some advice!
Congratulations Raine! I wish both of you all the happiness in the world in the years to come! 🙂 🙂
Thank you so much!!
So happy for you girl!!! Best of luck in this 2019 flr you & your soon to be husband!!
Thank you, thank you!
Congratulations!! I didn’t realize that you had moved! Looking forward to the wedding pictures. Hope all continues to go well!!
Raine, i’m so happy for you! I can understand why others said this happening is like in a Korean drama. It’s special too you met through Tinder. I have read so many negative stories about this app. It’s clear your fiancé and you have a lot in common. Wish you a lot of happiness together!
Thanks for sharing your story here too! 🙂
새해 복 많이 받으세요! ♥♥♥
Thank you, Wilma! I had experienced and read and heard horror stories from Tinder, but I figured since I was in a new country I would try. Good thing I did. 새해 복 많~이 받으세요!!!!!!!