Meet in Person ... At Last !

"The best thing to hold onto in this world is each other."

One week before the planned trip to Canada, we got everything settled down. We got the airplane tickets confirmed, the hotel, and all the wedding preparations. Not like many other weddings, we did not have many things to prepare. Since it was not possible for both of our parents or families to come, there would only be the two of us without any guests. This was really not like the wedding ceremony that people usually dream of, but we were very excited and very happy for it. Besides, we were also not just an 'ordinary' couples met in 'ordinary' way !

November 21 seemed so long to come. I had already got my days off approved a week before, but Dennis just got his 3 days before our meeting schedule. His boss did not really like it, but he was happy for him for getting married. We still talked through the internet everyday, dreaming about what would happen when we first met and what we would do there. Dennis said he might get faint once he saw me or touched me... I thought I might too ! And he wanted to tickle me right at the airport ! Everything was just so exciting ! Of course we were also a bit scared. Both of us were afraid that maybe one of us would not appear at the airport or had a second thought about it at the last moment, or something went wrong at the immigration so we could not go there. Many scary things came to our minds, especially because none of us had been there before nor had any relatives or friends there. If something went wrong, it would be very terrible ! But the excitement were far greater than the scared. We convinced each other that we would meet soon and we would get married, then we would be together forever !

Finally the day came. I would go first from Jakarta, flying across the Pacific for nearly 20 hours. Dennis would fly later and it only took 3.5 hours from Rochester to Vancouver. My flight would be first flight in the morning to Singapore for 1.5 hours, then connected to Vancouver via Seoul for around 17 hours. Dennis would still go to work while I was in the air, and he would go to Rochester right after that. But he would be the first one arrive in Vancouver and he would wait for me at the airport. He said he would use a blue outfit with his company name on it, and I would use white one so we would be very sure that we would recognize each other.

I woke up at 4 a.m Jakarta time because my flight was at 6.30 a.m and I had to go to the airport by 4.30 a.m. The taxi came to pick me up at 4.15, right after I finished shower and packed all of my luggage. I called Dennis from my home phone before I left. It was 4 p.m in his place and he was still sleeping. I told him that I would go soon, and that my taxi was already there. He said OK, good, just go and don't be late at the airport. My scared came again, mostly because I was afraid that he would not be there.

"Promise me that you'll be there ! " that's what I told Dennis at that time. I had said that for maybe around 50 times then... LOL !! Dennis always said that he would be there for me, he promised, so I better be there too. But at that time he said something different. "Have I ever not there when you need me ? Have I ever let you down ?" he said. Tears rolled down my eyes while I said "No." Then he said, "So trust me. I would be there for you too this time. I promise !" I would never forget his words. It really gave me encouragement and assurance. So I went off to the airport and arrived there 1 hour before departure time.

The flight to Vancouver was really long and tiring for me. I slept in half of it, but after departing from Seoul I could not sleep no more. I was too excited and scared and worried at the same time. What if he did not appear there, what if he could not get through the immigration, what if I was rejected by the immigration staffs, what if... hundreds 'what ifs' came to my mind. I decided to be strong and brave and be prepared for anything.

At 11.30 a.m local time Singapore Airlines flight SQ18 arrived at Vancouver International Airport. I got off the plane and a bunch of Canadian immigration officers with a big dog have waited for us right after the plane's door. One of them asked me to show my passport and asked my purpose going there. I said that it was for vacation and she let me go. Then I walked to the immigration line. It was quite crowded at that time. The line was quite long but the officers there worked fast so I did not have to wait for long. I looked over the immigration counter to see the situation there and tried to figure out where Dennis would wait for me. He should have arrived there around 15 minutes ago so he might be there waiting for the luggage or something.

There I saw a tall guy with blue outfit standing behind the immigration counter. He looks like him, but I was unsure. He kept looking at me, and I looked at him back. Then suddenly he smiled and waved his right hand. He must be Dennis !, I thought, so I waved at him too. He gave me a big smile and he showed me a paper with my picture on it ! I was a little bit embarrassed, but I laughed at him. I felt so relief because I found my 'future husband' and it turned down my nerves a lot.

My 'hehe' picture that Dennis brought to airport

When it was my turn to approach the immigration officer, I gave him my passport, showed him my visa and he asked me a bunch of questions. But finally, he stamped my passport and said, "Welcome to Canada !" and I left with relief. Dennis was there, waiting for me with his big army duffel bag. I walked towards him, still felt shy to do anything. He gave me a big hug and then we hugged each other for a moment. I cried a little bit, while he kissed my hair and said "It's OK. Everything is fine now." I knew he was right, everything was really fine now and I have met my true love ... in person !