It all started back in 2019, at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign — a place where the cornfields stretch for miles, the homework never ends, and somehow, magic happens. We were just two engineering majors in Engineering Council — nerds. Somehow, we just clicked.

From spontaneous food runs to dreams of future journeys, every moment together just made sense. It didn’t take long for us to realize: this wasn’t just college friendship — it was the beginning of our forever.

Kaustubh moved to St. Louis, while I continued with my Master’s degree at UIUC. After my Master’s I moved back to Chicago to start my career. That started our long-distance relationship.

In 2022, I found a new job in Austin, TX and we made the leap to move there together.

Pretty soon, we started creating our own little traditions — the kind that made everyday life feel special. Taco Fridays were born: a weekly ritual where we grab coffee and breakfast tacos at Radio Coffee, no matter how busy the week is. It became our reset button — a reminder to slow down, laugh, and enjoy the little things.

Through it all, we realized that the best traditions aren't found — they're made, little by little, together. Now, as we look ahead to the life we're building, we’re bringing our traditions with us — more tacos, more adventures, more laughter, and endless new memories, one Friday at a time.

-Karolina Urban