That time I went travelling and came back with a husband…

by | Last modified on Apr 12, 2020 | Personal journal

Mum, I’ve met a boy

A Guatemalan?’ she asked

No…an Israeli

I remember that Skype call home quite vividly. 6 and a half years ago sat in an internet cafe in San Pedro, Guatemala. Thankfully I have a mum who takes everything I tell her very much in her stride. She probably knew I was never going to end up settling down with a local Basingstoke boy anyway. I do like a challenge.

Later on, in that same conversation, I told her I was pretty sure I was going to marry him. This was 5 days after we had met! Yes, I was cringing on the inside, but I was sure. Even that early on. I had fallen completely and utterly head over heels for this boy in a way that, before this time, I used to declare ‘I didn’t believe in’. Love at first sight? Cue eye-rolling.

Well, 22-year-old me didn’t know everything.

Here’s the story of how I went travelling and came back with a husband…

It started with a mugging

I wasn’t even meant to be in Central America. While I was travelling around Thailand I had my bag stolen along with my passport, money and camera. My cheap travel insurance covered some of my loss but not all (emergency passports are blooming pricey!!). I had no choice but to return to the UK for 6 weeks to get a replacement passport and some new belongings.

My original plan had been to carry on to New Zealand but now my budget wouldn’t stretch to that. My sister suggested Central America while I was sat in front of a map on my computer. I found a cheap flight deal and that was it, I was on my way to Guatemala.

Tuesday night conversation club

On arriving I headed straight to San Pedro where I had signed up for 2 weeks of Spanish lessons. It was a nice school, next to the lake with good teachers and an array of activities. One of them being conversation club on a Tuesday night.

Only 2 people showed up…myself and Gil.

Talk about a fleeting moment that would change the direction of the rest of your life! Gil walked into the room and I felt an instant attraction and connection to him in a way I had never experienced before.

It didn’t take us long. 2 days after meeting, we moved into a homestay together and have been living together since. Needless to say, I didn’t learn much Spanish!

We spent the next couple of months travelling through Central America in a whirlwind of tostadas, markets, sloths and meaningful conversations about life. I sensed the doubt from bystanders. They saw a holiday romance and warned me of my impending heartache. As with so many things in my life though, I ignored all advice.

Tough decisions

It’s not easy being with someone from a different country. Firstly we had to make the tough choice which one of us would leave our friends and family. Visa restrictions decided this for us and Gil packed a bag and moved to London. We were lucky that his Grandmother was originally Romanian, pre-WWII, which enabled him dual nationality otherwise it would have been hopeless. Thank goodness we met pre-Brexit!

Those early years were difficult. Gil had been fresh out of mandatory army service when I met him. He didn’t have a degree or work experience, was in a new country, speaking a second language with a restrictive working visa. We were poor, working long hours in jobs that we hated, living with leaky sinks and crazy borderline psychopathic housemates.

Maintaining relationships with family abroad was also an ongoing battle. Juggling annual leave, mixed with feelings of guilt and outside pressure.

We were tested individually, as were the boundaries of our relationship. Could we really make this work?

So many lessons learned

I felt that after a year together we had been through a lifetime of stress, worries and general crap that life throws at you. After our beautiful beginnings, it was a stark and harsh turn in the opposite direction.

There were times when things weren’t looking good between us, but we battled through. Because, for all the difficulties that come with a multi-country relationship, there is something quite special that bonds you. Perhaps it’s the impossibility of your meeting or maybe the fact that together we are so unique from everyone else. We held on to that.

We learnt about resilience. Not giving up. Working out what really matters in life.

After 2 years of struggling, we both landed better jobs. We were financially at ease for the first time and living in our own little studio flat in Putney. It was a breather.

Soon after, Gil surprised me at work. He had hired a camper van and took me on a trip to the New Forest where he got down on one knew. I think you know what my answer was!

A trip down memory lane

When I found out I was going to Honduras to do the GoEco marine conservation course, I knew we couldn’t go without fitting in a trip to Guatemala.

Lake Atitlan was even more serene and beautiful than I remember.

“It is really too much of a good thing.” Aldus Huxley (Beyond the Mexique Bay,1934)

We booked to stay at SakCari Hotel, which was right next to the Spanish school where we met. We lay in bed each morning taking in the impossible view, watching the hummingbirds while reminiscing.

The hotel had kayaks you could use when you liked and, my favourite, an overdose of hammocks. So our days were well spent.

With our old photos in hand, we went in search to see if much had changed. We went to the house that we had stayed in before. We found out that shortly after we had left, the place had been flooded and the family had to move out. It looked pretty similar otherwise!

Just coincidently we bumped into our homestay father, Juan, who didn’t believe our story and that we were still together. What a lovely man. He took us back to see the rest of the family. We had a picture of one of their children. It took about 20 minutes for them to work out which one it was. They don’t have the luxury of endless photos to hold onto.

Even our ‘banana bread lady’ was still sat there, 6 years on, in the same spot serving her daily dose of cake. I will never forget her face!

A look back on 6 years

Coming back to Lake Atitlan and looking back over the past 6 years has been an incredible experience. Not just reminding myself how lucky I am to be here again with Gil and how different and great my life has been because of our meeting, but also to look at how I have grown as a person since that time. So much has changed. Yet here I am, travelling again with the same man by my side. Only this time it’s better. I’m more confident, I’m working for myself, have a wealth of opportunities and adventures ahead of me and, most importantly, I’m so so so grateful for everything I have. Gratitude is a wonderful thing that can grow from dark times.

Travel, explore and follow your heart…..who knows where it will take you….

Hiking selfie

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Bex Band

Bex Band

Welcome to my blog! I'm an award-winning adventurer, bestselling author and founder of Love Her Wild. My work and adventures have featured in BBC, The Guardian and Condé Nast. I love nothing more than travelling and getting outdoors on solo and family adventures. Using my years of experience, I provide advice and inspiration on various topics, including wild camping, charity challenges, glamping and travel itineraries.

17 Comments

  1. wildsheepblog

    Awww what a gorgeous love story. I wish you many happy years of adventure and travel together. Saira xox

    Reply
    • admin

      Thank you Saira!!

      Reply
  2. paddlepedalpace

    Ah such a lovely story! How long have you been married now?

    Reply
    • admin

      Thanks!! We’ve been together 2 years…it’s gone quick!

      Reply
  3. lovinglifeinwelliesblog

    What a brilliant read !!! It’s funny how life can turn out. I’m so happy for thr both of you it worked out. Keep adventuring x

    Reply
    • admin

      Thank you!! It’s so true…you really never know what is around the corner. Who knew I’d end up marrying an Israeli that I met in a Spanish school in Guatemala!!

      Reply
  4. Mira

    Although I know your story, I was thrilled to read it again. I wish you years of love and fulfillment of dreams. Love you
    Mira

    Reply
    • admin

      Thanks Mira! xxxx

      Reply
  5. Ellie

    This was such a wonderful story to read, weird how some people meet because of one small incident. So many “what if…” questions come to mind.

    I´m so glad you guys have made it work, it gives me a little bit more hope for my relationship! (Over half of which has been long-distance) We´re travelling together now but visas are always an issue.

    Here´s wishing you a liftetime of happiness and adventures together 🙂

    Reply
    • admin

      That’s a really lovely message…thank you Ellie! I often think ‘what if’ as our meeting was such an impossible coincidence yet has had the biggest influence on my life.
      There is always hope. Visa restrictions are a horrible and draining reality, but if you can survive a relationship with these barriers then you can survive anything!
      Likewise I hope everything works out well for you 🙂 x

      Reply
  6. Jacquie

    So glad you wanted to follow me in Instagram! I love all that you stand for and loved reading this story! What an adventurer! Godspeed to you and your husband and all your incredible adventures to come! Thanks for sharing! Can’t wait to read a book of short stories…hint hint. ??

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      Thanks Jacquie!! ☺️☺️☺️

      Reply
  7. doitwhileyoucan

    What a lovely story and a happy ending!! Though really it is just the first chapter..

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      Thanks so much for reading and for your kind words!! 🙂

      Reply
  8. emmajanelek@gmail.com

    Ahh a true love story, I met my husband in New Zealand whilst backpacking, he is from the Netherlands and i am from the UK, 22 years later we are still going strong, 2 beautiful girls 1 born in the UK the other in NZ now we have moved back to the Netherlands, but who knows where we will end up. xxx

    Reply
    • Bex Band

      Thanks for reading! It sounds like you have a great love story too….it definitely keeps life interesting 🙂 xx

      Reply
  9. Todd @Visit50

    That is so amazing! I met my gf with a discussion about travel, but your origin story is on another level! Love!

    Reply

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