Rita

  We met our junior year of college during a study abroad in Madrid. Although we both were at UF, we had never met until that trip (although we would later find out that we lived in the exact same buidling one floor apart our freshman year). It was hardly love at first sight. Rita's first encounter of Joel took place on her arrival to Madrid.  After an exhausting day of travel and confusion over where she'd be living for the next six months, she climbed up the stairs hoping she had finally found her home.  Instead of a smiling, friendly face, she was greeted with Joel standing on the doorstep of his apartment and "crudely" telling her there was no space for her and she should look elsewhere. This, of course, did not sit well, and she wondered if the first person she met was going to be the group jerk. Luckily, Joel's reputation quickly improved as his charming wit and determination to get her laptop's internet running won her over. Within a few days, we formed a seemingly inseparable friendship, and quickly earned the embarassing nickname "Joelrita." During our trip abroad, we explored other countries, improved our Spanish, ate countless Doner Kebabs, Argentine steak sandwiches and 100 montaditos, and got lost a few times.  Although our friends and even some family were convinced we were a couple, we maintained that we were just friends. After an amazing 6 months, it was time to get back to reality in the US. Both of us were unsure if our Spanish friendship would survive back in the U.S., but once our senior year started, our friendship picked right up where it left off. It wasn't long after that when we finally admitted what everyone else already knew and became "official." Fast forward almost 6 years, and we have seen each other go through so many major life changes. Through Graduation, first real jobs, two big moves, (second, third, and fourth jobs for Rita), learning a new city, shoveling snow (and making snow angels!), and a return trip to Madrid to reminisce, we have continued to be by each others' side providing love and support. We cannot wait for the next stage of our life as we embark on this new journey together!