A Study Abroad Love Story

 Kate Robinson saw him on the plane from New York to Paris, France. "I thought, 'That's the handsomest guy I've ever seen. Tall, blonde, pale blue eyes. I hope he's going where I'm going.'"

Kate was on her way to Grenoble, France, for her second study abroad experience. She was majoring in French and Education at Ashland University in Ohio, but had spent another semester abroad in England "to work out all the kinks of study abroad before I did it in a foreign language."

"I was so surprised to arrive in Paris and see Patrick, our coordinator, with a sign for CEA and there was Allan in my group!"

Allan Siiman says he first saw Kate when they collected their luggage in Paris.

They met on the bus ride to their group's hotel in Paris, each ready to embark on a CEA study abroad program in Grenoble, France. It was Fall 2002. Allan was majoring in Business at the University of Florida.

"Kate and I went for a walk and that was pretty much it," Allan said.

With less than a week until Valentine's Day, Kate says reminiscing about how they first met was fun. She remembers it being rainy in Grenoble after their CEA group had finished taking placement exams at the university.

"I'm always prepared, so I had an umbrella," she joked. "Mr. Florida did not. So I took advantage of the situation and said, 'I'll share my umbrella.'"

Kate and Allan married in June 2006 and today live in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. They're expecting their first child in July. Today, Allan is customer service manager at Crown Cork & Seal in Oshkosh, Wisc. Having mastered her own French language skills, Kate teaches French at Oshkosh West High School.

It all started with a college study abroad experience in France. Allan says they spent most of their time together while abroad. "We went snowboarding and did all the classes," Allan says. "We had wine and cheese and went to Marseille once – just the two of us. And Geneva. "

"My mom was a little disappointed I didn't learn more French," he confesses. "We've been together ever since."