After living with Yuki for a year and half in Copenhagen, I had to leave for my next assigment in Islamabad. She stayed and continued working with the World Health Organization.

My first three months in my new country of residence was challenging. In November I decided to take a break and visit Yuki and at the same attend the Marine Corps Ball. The week before the Ball Yuki and I went to Barcelona together for a relaxing holiday. It was in Barcelona that I made the command decision to ask Yuki to marry me. Now I had to figure out how! The evening of the Marine Corps Ball, I popped the question. Perhaps it was not the most romantic or conventional scenario but it worked. I was in the shower at the hotel. Yuki was also in the bathroom blow drying her hair. First, I asked Yuki if it was necessary to have a ring before a person could (in theory at least) propose and Yuki's immediate response was that a ring was not necessary. It's all a bit of a blur but it was that moment I proposed. At the time with the blow dryer and the shower going, I was not sure she heard me. I thought that perhaps she thought I had asked if she wanted to order from room service. In the end it all worked out, as she said yes thereby becoming engaged to me and getting a club sandwich from room service before the ball!

On Tuesday, November 18, we bought the engagement ring and in November 20, we made the official announcement at FIGARO. Friends and colleagues came and celebrated with us.....