By Lauren Frank, Adam Hudacek, Emely Miranda-Aguilar, Sanya Wason and Joe Wicke
You’ve seen the viral video scene before — someone approaches a couple on the street and asks them a simple question: “How did you two meet?”
In February, four Diamondback reporters did just that. What followed was reminiscent of Hollywood’s greatest romantic tales, stories of love, lust and laughter with a little luck along the way.
These are the love stories and meet cutes of College Park, pulled straight from the sidewalks, streets and steps of this university.
Ananya and Jaiman
Amidst the chaos, confusion and endless IKEA bags during last semester’s residence hall
move-in, freshman environmental science and policy major Ananya Garg found love.
Jaiman Munshi, a freshman computer science major, wandered into Garg’s room looking for her roommate, a family friend of Munshi’s. Instead, he ran into Garg’s family, discovering that his friend had yet to move in. After a brief conversation with her parents, Munshi left without exchanging a word with Garg.
Garg said that she thought highly of Munshi, even during their short non-interaction.
The two continued to run into each other throughout the first week of classes. Garg’s roommate invited Munshi to their room a few times and the two grew close. That weekend, they exchanged phone numbers.
Shortly after, Garg and Munshi deepened their bond after Munshi returned from a late-night trip to Washington, D.C. Unable to fall asleep, he spent the night talking about their shared Indian culture and their love of food and dance.
Garg said she can talk to Munshi about anything, even if it’s on a three hour bus rides back to campus. The couple loves this candidness the most about each other.
“He’s so ready to communicate with me about anything and everything,” Garg said, “I talk so much, and even when he needs to focus, he’ll just let me talk.”
Garg and Munshi log their favorite memories of each other into a shared photo album. This includes this university’s Hindu Students Councils’ Oct. 4 Garba, an Indian dance, where they spent the night together weaving through circles of dancers.
Yet, it’s another dance that means the most to Garg. She recalled spontaneously dancing with Munshi in the pouring rain, one of her favorite memories.
The two plan to live in off-campus housing with their group of friends next year, eager to cook their favorite dishes together. Until then, they look forward to every little moment together.
Jaylen and Jahlia
Like many of the best love stories, Jaylen McCullough and Jahlia Solomon started out as friends.
McCullough, a sophomore secondary education and English major, and Solomon, a freshman psychology major at the University of Maryland Global Campus, first met and became friends while working at Target. They were friends for awhile, Solomon said, before they ventured into something more.
Solomon was talking to other guys who were “playing games,” and eventually, McCullough stepped up, she said. Now, the couple is approaching their two-year anniversary.
“She was really down to earth and just very real with everyone that we worked with,” McCullough said. “If something happened, she would always stick up for us and stick up for other people around her. So I really admire her for that.”
McCullough expressed his feelings to Solomon on Christmas. They chose to not start dating at the time, deciding to not rush into things too quickly. Instead, they remained friends and often hung out together after school, until three months after Christmas, when McCullough officially asked her out.
“He was a really great guy. Honestly, he was very genuine and very sweet. He’s very loyal, but also very attentive and everything,” Solomon said. “He was a family person … who doesn’t love a family man? He was just really nice. He showed me kindness.”
For their first date, McCullough took Solomon to Red Maple in Silver Spring. As a sushi fan, McCullough encouraged her to try the Japanese cuisine for the first time.
“He’s definitely getting me out of my shell about trying out things that I’ve never tried before,” Solomon said. “I’m not super keen on sushi, but you know, every now and then, I’m like, ‘Okay, I’ll take a bite.’”
In the nearly two years they’ve been together, McCullough and Solomon have taken a trip to Delaware’s Rehoboth Beach over summer break.
“It was the first time that we’ve been on a trip together by ourselves, and, for me, the first time without my parents. So it was just really nice to be able to have that freedom,” McCullough said.
They savor their memories of walking through Christmas lights together. Despite the bitter cold, each other’s company warmed the evening as they winded through the bright holiday streets.
“It’s always nice and cozy and romantic,” Solomon said. “It’s nice to spend the holidays with each other.”
Emily and Eric
Recent graduate Emily Nyugen and senior computer engineering major Eric Chen just celebrated one year and three months together.
The pair met through mutual friends in the Vietnamese Student Association where they started to hang out. Although the club is large, the two found each other in smaller groups, Chen said.
The two said the Vietnamese Student Association gave them the chance to spend time together.
“That’s how you get to know people better,” Chen said.
The two ventured off-campus for their first date during the Christmas season. They walked around and got a sweet treat in Georgetown, where they enjoyed the neighborhood’s famed pint-sized baked goods.
If the pair isn’t spending time at a cafe or bakery like Georgetown Cupcakes, they also enjoy watching popular TV shows, especially ones that are easy to pick-up, Chen said.
