Love story: I chose you because “my heart told me

Kha Tu Le – grew up in a farmer's family in Cu Chi, but she always wanted to study abroad. At 35 years old, she realized this dream by calling for capital from relatives and friends. After 2 years of determination and passion, Tu Le earned a master's degree in business administration in Poland. However, in 2024, she also surprised and delighted the whole family with the “degree” of marrying Mr. Michel – an Italian engineer.

In joy and happiness, Kha Tu Le shared with Ho Chi Minh City Women's Newspaper the story of her “finding the other half”.

If you meet someone online, you must verify your identity

I'm eager to learn, but I also don't neglect or ignore getting married. As technology develops, I search for like-minded people through social networks. I'm very patient. I have to say that I “swiped” the phone screen until my fingerprints were worn out, and I still couldn't find anyone suitable. I know this is not simple because many people fall into the money trap. I also know that because of caution, not many people send real personal data to strangers when dating online.

But, because of the serious nature and also to ensure the authenticity of who to date, I ask to verify each other's identities through passports and video calls – an action that is not very common when meeting in person. gland. Because of this rather strict first step, I could eliminate “familiar” subjects.

When I got to know Michel, he immediately agreed to my request to “verify my identity”. It seemed that neither of us thought the other was a love or money cheat, so he and I freely shared data, creating personal reputations for each other. From honest and open sharing, we have created a trusting and warm relationship from the very beginning.

Tu Le and Michel received their marriage certificate in Denmark, March 16, 2024, 1.5 years after they met online

After chatting online for a while, I had a trip to Italy during the summer vacation of 2022. So we decided to meet. It took Michel 2 hours to drive from home to the appointment. The first time we met, I used my phone to record and interview him. I explained that I had an idea and was planning a “dating show” about dating and he was a character in this show.

He was quite surprised, but then was very cooperative and answered my questions naturally. He also asked me a lot: why I came to Poland to study, where I wanted to make a career in the future… Along with his sincere “testimonies” was his genuine smile. Actually, when I met him, I didn't have any specific program planned, I just “talked” like that so we could easily ask each other questions, so I could take pictures.

On the second day, Michel took me to visit churches, museums, and beautiful places near BiBione in Italy. After that, we broke up and I returned to Poland to continue studying. The two still keep in touch via text message.

If you like it, “move”

Realizing that this “beautiful boy” was quite gentle and interesting, I decided to “follow the path” by developing round 2 of the dating show idea: “I need to know more about housing, lifestyle, Italian culture”… I asked Michel to let me stay at his house for a week to observe and record family culture and also so that the two characters in the reality show could understand each other and give each other the opportunity to decide. Decide whether to get to know each other further or not.

He also found it quite interesting and wanted to continue participating as a “guinea pig” for my project. So, after discussing with his family, Michel agreed to let me visit his home. He drove up to Bibione beach again and picked me up. Now that I think back, I still remember my “confused and confused” feelings. Actually, at that time I was very reckless, because I didn't know what it would be like to stay at a stranger's house. Therefore, before leaving, I sent a photocopy of Michel's passport to my relatives in the US and Germany, letting them know where I was going and with whom.

I always call my relatives so they can update information. Michel was still innocent and happy, seemingly unaware of my vague fear. He took me home to his house around 8 p.m.

Unexpectedly, his family, including grandmother, parents, and younger brother, welcomed me as a distinguished guest from another country. My family prepares a separate room, cooks every day, and does laundry for me. They were so thoughtful that I felt embarrassed. I started the conversation by introducing Vietnam – the people, the landscape and the cuisine, especially the spring rolls. His whole family was very happy and impressed by my sincerity in communication.

It is the affection of this strange family that has connected the two of us closer together. During a week at his house, I learned a lot about Italian culture, visited more small cities, and went hiking with Michel. Although we have become more intimate, up to this point, we are still two friends, not thinking about anything far away

Tu Le and Michel are very compatible in the fields of tourism, cuisine, lifestyle…

Expiring your student visa is a golden opportunity

After this wonderful week, I returned to Poland to study. A few months later, my laptop was damaged due to impact. I was sad, cried and told this story to Michel. Students without laptops find it difficult to study. Unexpectedly, Michel offered to help me buy a new laptop, because according to him, students away from home don't have much money to buy laptops. Said and done, he transferred 420 euros to me, told me not to feel guilty, as if he was giving me a gift. It was his heart and concern that made me – a person far from home trying to study – feel warm.

We, working people, school going people, still follow each other's activities, to promptly share the joys and sorrows in life.

Christmas 2022 is an opportunity for us to share the family atmosphere and our increasingly passionate love. The financial and spiritual support that Michel gave me while studying and living away from home demonstrated his sincere feelings and deep concern for me. So from our friendship, we committed to seriously understanding each other for a long journey together.

Michel and I get along very well. He still wants me to realize the idea of ​​​​making a “dating” program in Europe, so that hearts that need each other can meet. At the end of this year, he and I plan to return to Vietnam, so that he can meet his bride's family and discover more about Vietnamese culture.

Every 2 months, Michel arranges to visit me once. We traveled all over Poland, went to a small city in Austria… Many times, I asked Michel: “With your standards of “handsome, family” like you, you can find a good person, richer than me; So why choose a poor student?” He just smiled and said “my heart tells me”. Because of our sincerity for each other, every time we parted ways at the airport, we both cried, not wanting to be apart.

In September 2023, I received a very short-term residence card in Poland. Every time I register to renew my residence card, it takes time, costs, and complicated procedures… So Michel has an immediate solution: all procedures will be simple when I become a European citizen, which means I become a European citizen. his wife. Once again, he said he did. The expiration date of my student visa became a necessary and sufficient factor for us to move from love to marriage. Even though we faced many difficulties and barriers from complicated administrative paperwork processes, we did not give up.

We went to Denmark hand in hand to get married (Surprisingly, in Denmark, marriage does not require documents to confirm being single, the lawyer works in just 10 minutes to have an international marriage certificate) and everything. go smoothly. We became husband and wife and completed settlement procedures in Italy on March 30, 2024 (just 1 day before my visa to study in Poland expired).

Right after starting my new life, in addition to being a wife, I actively participated in the movement of the Vietnamese Student Association in Italy, participating in events such as introducing books to young people. I am cherishing a new project for the international student community and promoting the project Calling for Study Abroad Capital with the desire to support young people who are eager to learn.

In my journey to find happiness as a couple, I have given many people the belief that, no matter how many difficulties we face, we can still find true love and build a bright future.

Kha Tu Le