Lara is 20 and in her third year of a nursing degree in Nelson, New Zealand. Her fiance, Sam. followed her over and is now working as a personal trainer until she completes her course, and they have a flat in Nelson and a little car, all bought from their own earnings. Once she is working, he will probably take a degree in physiotherapy, although he is very happy doing his present job and has already had promotion.
They entered a Love Story contest in the local paper and got through to the seven finalists - they won about 300 pounds for jewellery and if they win they will get another 500 pounds.
Here is her story, followed by the link for voting:
Sam and Lara.
Sam and I met through mutual friends at high school. He tells me now that the attraction was instant, however his best friend at the time had a thing for me, so under the strict influence of the teenage "boys code," it wasn’t until Sam saved his friend from an oncoming car that he was allowed to ask me on a date.
Having finally plucked up the courage Sam asked me (in possibly the least romantic place ever) at our local swimming pool in the UK. I hadn’t seen Sam in that way before, but he was kind and more mature than the other boys I knew. And so we began dating at age 14.
Sam was my first boyfriend, and initially I’ll admit I didn’t think much of it. But after 3 weeks of dating I became ill with the flu. After not hearing from me, Sam rang, and found out I was unwell. He lived two villages away, and being only 14 had no car. Nevertheless, through snow and below freezing temperatures, he walked for 2 hours to bring me a teddy bear, a film and chocolate. Well, they say the way to a girl’s heart is through her stomach, and when I opened the door to find him practically on the brink of hypothermia, my heart melted.
Then, when I was 17 and Sam 18, my father got a job in New Zealand. Telling Sam that I was moving was one of the hardest things I've had to do. Sam promised me that he would follow when he finished school.
Sam rang every day, which meant being awake at all kinds of hours, but I desperately needed that familiar voice. The long distance was tough, but true to his word, after 9 months, Sam finished his exams and the very same week was on a flight to NZ.
When he arrived at the airport, jet-lagged and carrying all his worldly possessions, ready to start a new life with me on the other side of the world, I couldn't help but be reminded of that first day I began to fall for him; there was truly no distance he wouldn't go for me.
At the beginning of 2012 we moved into our first place together, with Sam working full-time to support me as I complete the third and final year of my nursing degree. We are very much looking forward to the next chapter in our lives and our many more adventures to come!
www.nelsonweddingshow.co.nz/love-stories.html.
