This unexpected date arose the night before our challenge began, but I wanted to record it. This date encapsulates a lot of the challenge’s purpose for me: learning to discern right decisions and instincts, being braver in revealing how I feel, correctly identifying interest/availability (this is definitely not my strength!), and not rejecting potential interests prematurely. And in general, being spontaneous and having fun! 

I had met Zack, a Brit, at an expat rooftop party a couple weeks earlier. This was my first real “party” since covid times! Zack was kind, funny, attractive, and defied the strict British rule system that had constrained me when I lived in London. We got on well, and I chatted with him at the party longer than anyone else. I was still in my shell but we exchanged contact info at the end. 

Soon after meeting though, I made plans to move to Berlin. I assumed things with Zack wouldn’t go anywhere. We texted a bit but didn’t hang out again (though I did run into him during a walk at the castle park!). 

Lo and behold, my last night before moving to Berlin, by lucky coincidence we did meet again. I was strolling around the old town, reminiscing. Suddenly I received a text from him. He invited me to dinner exactly adjacent to where I was standing, at one of my favorite restaurants in the city. He was inside, eating alone, and had spotted me. It was exactly what I needed! 

For two hours, we talked about our desires, histories, and our motivations to live in such a unique Eastern European modern-medieval city. I learned of his passion for filmmaking in the genre of Soviet influence (something I’m intrigued by as well). I found out he was indeed single and looking. He helped my realize that I had actually fallen in love with this city, just as I was about to leave it. We were both timid daters. I certainly didn’t flirt with him enough to give him reason to take a risk on his end. Something also felt slightly emotionally distant— he felt too nice, and too unambitious for me, perhaps. I wondered whether this feeling of distance might break though, down given more time/dates. A missed opportunity? I think if he pursued me, I hope I would stay open to him.