For privacy, I’ll only share our initials because I haven’t told everyone (like my parents) about our relationship yet.
My boyfriend O. and I, S., met on Slowly. I started using Slowly in February 2025. I haven’t been using it for long. I was planning to go to O.’s country in July 2025 for a training. I wanted to find a friend from that country and learn a new language. I came across O.’s profile on Slowly and sent him a letter. Since the letter took more than twelve hours to arrive, I had to wait patiently. Slowly has really helped me learn patience.
I started talking to O. every day. All I did was wait for his letters to arrive. In March, we decided to chat on another messaging app. By the end of March, we realized that our feelings for each other were more than just being pen pals. We began dating, had video calls, and O. planned the places he would take me when I went to his country.
To travel to O.’s country, I had to get a visa. I applied roughly four months before my travel date and waited nervously for the result. I was able to collect my passport just four days before the trip—the visa had been granted.
I can’t forget the moment I saw O. at the airport. After a gruelling twelve-hour journey, I was exhausted, but it was worth it—there he was, the love of my life, standing in front of me as I struggled not to fall while lugging my suitcase.
It was the most wonderful month of my life. Coming from such different cultures and speaking different languages, how was it possible that we understood each other better than anyone else? We were so different, yet somehow the same. We were both people who found happiness in small and simple things. The most delicious meal I’ve ever had was just a piece of bread shared with him. My favourite drink is the iced tea we enjoy together. I’ve never tasted ice cream like the one I had while sitting on the sidewalk with him. I wasn’t in my homeland, but looking into his eyes made me feel at home.
Together with him, I tasted things I had never tasted, listened to songs I had never heard, and discovered a country unknown to me. Through it all, I discovered a new side of myself—a part of my soul that had been waiting for O. to awaken.
Saying farewell at the airport felt unbearably heavy. He could only come with me as far as passport control. After that, I was on my own, and I think I cried for nearly an hour while gazing at the portrait he had given me.
We text each other daily and continue our video calls. Everything feels harder now. Back when I was planning to visit his country in July, we were certain we’d be together, but now we have no idea when we’ll see each other again. I’m a university student who will graduate in 2026. O. needs to complete some trainings to find a job. He really wants to visit me, but his trainings are scheduled during my holidays, so he must stay in his country. I’m considering another trip to his country, but the visa application requires both time and funds, which I don’t think I can provide. I suppose we won’t be able to meet for at least another year.
After I graduate, I intend to find a job in his country and enhance my language abilities. Perhaps it isn’t easy, but I want to give it a try because I believe in the love between O. and me. I sometimes feel desperate or hopeless, but O.’s pure love gives me strength.
We want to get married. Perhaps there will be things that both O. and I will need to change about ourselves. After all, we were born and raised in different parts of the world, but we don’t see that as a barrier to our love. We are certain that we will be truly happy together. I sincerely hope everyone reading this story will keep us in their good thoughts and prayers.
I decided to share our story to inspire other Slowly users and to express my gratitude to the Slowly team. Thanks to this wonderful app, O. and I found each other. We found true love. I hope that other Slowly users, and even those who haven’t yet discovered this app, will also find true love and a happy life.
