I first met Juan in March 2009 at Ballroom Dancing and Salsa Dancing classes at the Mount. I noticed him and thought he looked rather lovely. Juan thought I was very beautiful and elegant. The dancing instructor had Juan partnered up with another lady, but Juan very discretely told the instructor that he wanted to partner up with me. From that moment, we became dancing partners at dancing class and had a chance to get to know each other better. He was always lovely to talk to and a great dance partner.

We became friends and found that we enjoyed one another’s company. We went to hear Jazz at the Easter Jazz Festival together and Juan came to my teacher graduation family dinner at my favourite restaurant He bought me a beautiful Celtic pair of earrings as a graduation present and I was rather taken by him.

Romance blossomed and we started dating in April. We enjoyed talking together on a wide range of topics, going to the movies and I loved listening to Juan play his guitar and sing. We got on well and appreciated one another as people. I noticed Juan was a loving person who treated people with kindness and respect and a deep thinker. Juan thought I was not only beautiful but a pleasure to be around. He was taken with my kindness and my graceful ways.

Juan went overseas in May to see family and his son Miguel and celebrate his 40th.  We kept in touch by emails and Juan always wrote newsy and substantial accounts of his trip and time in Peru.

I started working as a teacher.  We developed a distance relationship after May.  We alternate the weekends in each other places.

In April 2007 we started living together and we got to know one another better by living together.

In 2008 we travelled to Peru for 4 weeks to meet Juan’s family and his son Miguel. I didn’t realise that Juan had planned to propose to me in Peru and had already asked my mother for my hand in marriage.  Juan proposed to me on April 30 in the highlands of Macchu Pichu, the last Inca’s remains and one of the 7 wonders of the world. It was an incredible moment and he spoke about our happiness and love. When he proposed he presented me with his late mother’s Beatriz’s most beautiful necklace as a present and then we went together to get my engagement ring in Lima.

We returned to NZ and had a lovely engagement party at my mother’s house.

 We feel blessed by the arrival of our son Marco in February this year.  Our marriage cements our happiness and the commitment we have made to one another.