2006.12.10: December 10, 2006: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: Romance: Marriage: South Bend Tribune: Kristin Rodick Oles writes: Zach Oles and I fostered and nurtured our relationship through a communication standard infrequently seen in today's world
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July 14, 2003 - The Flyer Group: Volunteer Zach Oles uses magic to teach in Haiti :
2006.12.10: December 10, 2006: Headlines: COS - Dominican Republic: Romance: Marriage: South Bend Tribune: Kristin Rodick Oles writes: Zach Oles and I fostered and nurtured our relationship through a communication standard infrequently seen in today's world
Kristin Rodick Oles writes: Zach Oles and I fostered and nurtured our relationship through a communication standard infrequently seen in today's world
Zach left in 2002 for 27 months in Haiti, and I was entirely unsure, anxious and pitiful. It didn't help that Zach's village had no electricity, running water, telephone or other way to communicate with the outside world. Fortunately, Zach paid a few visits to the States, and I took a few vacations to meet him. As often as possible, he also made the at- least-four-hour trek to the nearest main city, where phones and the Internet were infrequently available. Zach and I fostered and nurtured our relationship through a communication standard infrequently seen in today's world. Our love grew stronger. In February 2004, when Zach returned early due to civil unrest in Haiti, I was finishing a master's degree in Philadelphia. We decided our most secure future lie in him beginning a career back home, while I finished my degree. Zach and I became engaged on March 10, 2005 -- under moonlight on the beach in the Dominican Republic where we had vacationed during his time in the Peace Corps. He proposed with a ring carved from a coconut tree by one of the Haitian children with whom we maintain contact.
Kristin Rodick Oles writes: Zach Oles and I fostered and nurtured our relationship through a communication standard infrequently seen in today's world
Final Four tournament brings two together
Dec 10, 2006
South Bend Tribune
Growing up in Notre Dame territory as the daughter and niece of Purdue alumni, I never imagined I'd end up a fan of Indiana University basketball. But then came the 2002 Final Four tournament.
My brother came down from South Bend to visit me at school in Atlanta and attend that NCAA Final Four tournament, something even more enticing after friends were hired as ushers. They could get us unused, closer-than-our-nose-bleed-section seats.
Then a few days prior to the tournament, a girlfriend from high school called to tell me that, with IU in the Final Four, she was coming to the tournament, too. I invited her to stay at my apartment, and she asked if she could bring three friends along. I, being the 20-year-old socialite, figured, "The more, the merrier."
And it was, though it was a whirlwind weekend. It ended shortly after IU lost the championship game because one of the group had to be back in class early Tuesday.
That day, I came home to a box from one of my new friends in the group. Inside was a dozen Georgia Peach roses with a note: "Thanks for the greatest weekend of my life. From Zach."
Being the well-mannered Midwestern girl I am, I called my high school friend for Zach's phone number, so I could thank him. That evening, he and I spoke for four hours. Though we got along so well during his visit that I felt like I'd known him all of my life, I guess that call was when I realized how perfect this man was for me.
So on summer break, despite his parents living in Indianapolis and mine in South Bend, Zach and I spent every spare second together. I like to think that we fell in love that summer. It was an enviable time, but it was destined to end: Zach had enrolled in the Peace Corps.
He left on Aug. 18 for 27 months in Haiti, and I was entirely unsure, anxious and pitiful. It didn't help that Zach's village had no electricity, running water, telephone or other way to communicate with the outside world.
Fortunately, Zach paid a few visits to the States, and I took a few vacations to meet him. As often as possible, he also made the at- least-four-hour trek to the nearest main city, where phones and the Internet were infrequently available.
Zach and I fostered and nurtured our relationship through a communication standard infrequently seen in today's world. Our love grew stronger.
In February 2004, when Zach returned early due to civil unrest in Haiti, I was finishing a master's degree in Philadelphia. We decided our most secure future lie in him beginning a career back home, while I finished my degree.
Zach and I became engaged on March 10, 2005 -- under moonlight on the beach in the Dominican Republic where we had vacationed during his time in the Peace Corps. He proposed with a ring carved from a coconut tree by one of the Haitian children with whom we maintain contact.
Zach and I married on June 17 of this year at my home parish in South Bend. Despite our Big 10 preferences, our two, often- separated souls finally united for life.
-- Kristin Rodick Oles of Brownsburg, Ind.
Links to Related Topics (Tags):
Headlines: December, 2006; Peace Corps Dominican Republic; Directory of Dominican Republic RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for Dominican Republic RPCVs; Romance; Marriage; Indiana
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Story Source: South Bend Tribune
This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; COS - Dominican Republic; Romance; Marriage
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