Whether they were or were not having a relationship was initially somewhat vague for Mariana. “Michiel and I got to know each other when I had been in the Netherlands for a month. After a few weeks I started wondering whether we were actually having a relationship. In Mexico when you fancy a boy, you first date each other for a couple of weeks. If there is a click, there will have to be a formal moment at some point: the boy asks whether you want to be his girl-friend. When I was dating Michiel, I was also waiting for that moment. However, the moment never came. So then I just asked him myself at some point.” Michiel: “That was a bit odd.” Laughing: “In the Netherlands we stopped asking that formal question after primary school, but things in Mexico are apparently different.”

Mariana and Michiel have now been going steady for six months. Mariana: “At first I had to get used to this. I was used to being together a great deal from the very first day of a relationship. Here you say ‘see you soon’ and then you do not know exactly whether you will see each other again tomorrow, next week or only in two weeks’ time. That was quite peculiar, but also agreeable at the same time. You both have a lot of time to do your own things then.”

Meanwhile they see each other almost every day and go to each other’s parties. Michiel: “One of the first times I went along to a party of hers, I was the only Dutch guy among international students. It is odd that those two worlds are so separate. Dutch and international students follow the same studies, but outside their studies they get involved with each other very little. It is an entirely different world that you don’t know anything about.”

In exactly one day Mariana is leaving for Mexico for a week. She has to pace herself, as she has sprained her ankle. “At such moments Michiel is really a big help. I am very grateful for that. We had to go and see a doctor, to hospital, back to the doctor and then to the pharmacy. How should I have done all of that on my own?”

Michiel is not joining her to Mexico this time yet, but for Christmas they will probably go together. He has already spoken to her parents and sisters via Skype and Mariana has also met Michiel’s family. They are not really thinking about the future yet. Michiel: “Neither of us is attached strongly to any specific city or any specific country, so I am sure that that will not be a problem at all.” (HB)