Nessa Geffen is from New
York, USA. She studied at Hunter College in New York and was a student in the
Spring Semester Study Abroad 2009 Undergraduate Program at the Rothberg
International School at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Story: Was it love at first sight?
Not
exactly.
There
is no doubt though that from the first time we met in Jerusalem, in the winter
of 2009, there was a connection. It all started on the steps of the Beit Shmuel
youth hostel when Nessa reluctantly let Micah help her with her bags. The next
morning, as Nessa was getting ready to leave for the first day of study abroad
orientation at the Rothberg International School at Hebrew U, with her friend
Patti, they spotted Micah sitting alone eating his breakfast. When they asked
if he wanted to share a ride to campus, he took a long look at his food and
mumbled, "But I'm not done eating."
As
our relationship developed during our time at Hebrew U, Nessa knew that there
was something special going on. Micah, typically, was oblivious. Luckily we
were a part of a great group of friends that stayed close, and were able to see
each other several times the next year. When Micah went back to Israel to serve
in the army, Nessa made a point to see him whenever she was there. Whether
hanging out on the beach in Tel Aviv or in a Jerusalem coffee shop, we were
always happy to be together and reminisce over old times.
We
never could have imagined what was yet to come though. In April 2012, Micah was
in New York for the funeral of his grandmother Lillian Bookman and reached out
to Nessa. That short time together sparked a deeper connection that had us both
wanting more. (Maybe it was the pastrami sandwich for breakfast that Nessa
treated Micah to). After months of talking daily, Nessa visited Israel in
October 2012 and there was no more denying it, we were in love. (Maybe it was
the army uniform Micah was wearing when he picked Nessa up from the airport).
After
9 months of a long distance relationship, two years of living together in
Jerusalem, and 9 months of living together in New York, Micah finally proposed! :)
