TXST senior embarks on a trip of unexpected romance

By Saige Klein
Blog Contributor 

Valentines Day has TXST senior Alyssa Campbell reminiscing on her romantic love story she experienced while studying abroad in Barcelona. 

Last summer, Campbell took a trip with the McCoy College of Business here at TXST to Barcelona, Spain. Not only did Campbell learn and get to see a completely new city, but she also met a special someone. 

While Campbell never planned on meeting someone on this trip abroad, the universe seems to work in mysterious ways. On the trip, there was a guy that Campbell seemed to think was cute, but thought it would stop there. 

“I remember sitting down eating tapas with a group over there and he just walked by, and I remember thinking oh he’s cute, he’s attractive, but nothing much there,” Campbell said. 

After a day of exploring the city, Campbell had the bright idea to cook dinner for her and her friends. Without any hesitation, he offered to help, interacting with one another and bouncing off ideas from each other.

“We were chatting and talking and that’s when I was really like oh this guy is really interesting and he’s really fun, and he can cook a good meal,” Campbell said. 

From that day on, Campbell knew that her little crush may have meant something more. Not only to her, but to him as well. 

 They both started spending every waking moment together, trying to soak up as much time as they could while on the trip. Interacting and being able to come together to cook a meal greatly bonded the pair. What started off as physical attraction quickly turned into something more. 

“After the cooking, I think that kind of solidified that I like him,” Campbell said. “I thought yes, definitely the physical attraction was there, but the cooking was a very attractive quality, so after that I was just like wow.” 

As the end of the trip approached, he asked Campbell on a date, spending their last weekend together exploring a little beach town two hours north of Barcelona. 

They had dinner at a little pizza place called The Giovanni, sitting right on the coastline of this tiny tiny city. Later that night, they walked along the coast and, in the morning they swam in the ocean.

 They explored every nook and cranny of this little coastal town, creating unforgettable and romantic memories together.  

 After weeks filled with fairy-tale-like memories and romantic getaways, coming back to the states was a weird and nerve wracking feeling. 

They both had no idea where their relationship would end up, but they both devoted their time and energy into figuring it out. Campbell had an internship later that summer in the DFW area, while her boyfriend stayed in San Marcos.

“We both devoted our time to coming up and seeing each other… just that energy really got us through that little hurdle,” Campbell said”

Today, their efforts they put into being long distance paid off as they just celebrated their 9 month anniversary. They are both very excited to celebrate their first Valentine’s Day together, hoping it’s just as romantic as when they first met.