Got the questions from Heather Armstrong @ dooce.com. Looks like a fun exercise. So here are my answers.
1. What are your middle names?
He doesn’t have a middle name, and my middle name is really my Chinese name.
2. How long have you been together?
We’ve been dating for 514 days (or 1 year 4 months and 25 days) according to my day counter app on Google.
3. How long did you know each other before you started dating?
We first met on the Badminton court in college. We were both avid players for over 10 years and enjoy pick-up games. For 2 years we didn’t really talk, we just see each other on the court and play our games (I believe we’ve even partnered in double games, but we are both experienced enough to know where the other person is and no talking is needed). We graduated 2 years later and ran into each other in the bus close to where we worked; we exchange contacts and agreed to lunch. The rest is history.
4. Who asked whom out?
I think technically neither of us did. It was mutual understanding and affection. I might have pushed a little harder to stay together when he was freaking out about the idea of us dating.
5. How old are each of you?
We are 2 years apart.
6. Whose siblings do you see the most?
I’ve met his brother twice, he has met my sister way more. The first time I introduced them we weren’t dating yet, and then it was my big birthday dinner, and another birthday dinner, and my big Chinese New Year feast at home. There’re probably some more outings here and there with my friends when they were both present. I like to make sure my sister likes him and accepts him, or at least they could relatively comfortably be in the same room. Same with my friends and our mutual friends; I have not yet met ‘his friends’.
7. Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple?
Can’t quite think of ‘hardest’ on top of my head, but one of the tougher scenarios is when he loses his cool. Both of us know and well understood that I’m quite a short circuit and I could blow up really quickly, and for a really short time. Usually he would just keep quiet and let that moment go, then I’d come back to my normal self and apologize, and cuddle to make things better. Otherwise, it’d just be a vicious spiral downwards. We’d get mad at each other for the other person being mad for no apparent reason, etc. But we’d eventually hug and make good.
8. Did you go to the same school?
We both graduated from UW. He graduated with EE master and I graduated with Business and Econ bachelors.
9. Are you from the same home town?
No. Vastly different background. He’s from Kollam, Kerala, India; I’m from Hong Kong. I still haven’t been to India and have very little concept of how big/ crowded of a town he’s from. I most often hear people comparing Hong Kong to NYC, whereas Kerala, as far as pictures go, looks like a beautiful tropical forest. The truth seems to be closer to some sort of a dense city though.
10. Who is smarter?
Depends on subject matter. I’m the planner/ control-freak so I’m really good in making sure everything is done on time and proper. Otherwise, he’s pretty smart too.
11. Who is the most sensitive?
Me… very self-conscious and needs constant reassurance/ recognition as I achieve perfection.
12. Where do you eat out most as a couple?
I’d say either my favorite hole-in-the-wall sushi place Musashi or the taco truck around the corner from his house Rancho Bravo Taco.
13. Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple?
San Francisco…
14. Who has the craziest exes?
Don’t think either of us has any really. If one day I became an ex of his, I would be it.
15. Who has the worst temper?
Me again. I lose it when things are not perfect that way I want it (surely there’s a range of emotions, starts from sulking to snapping off for 1 second to completely pissed off for a day).
16. Who does the cooking?
He’s the head chef; I’d help if I really need to. I don’t like to cook because I don’t have any creative ideas (in general and cooking in particular). My top of mind recipe is top ramen + fishballs, or any instant dinner like frozen pizza, canned soups, toasts, or chips.
17. Who is the neat-freak?
I just know how things need to be kept in order to avoid situations where one is likely to lose or forget about things, as well as maximizing sense of space in a small room with lots of piles.
18. Who is more stubborn?
hmm I haven’t thought about that for a while. I think we’re both stubborn up to a certain level, but not too bad really. We’ve grown up. lol
19. Who hogs the bed?
That’s up for debate.
20. Who wakes up earlier?
Me, and I stay up later too. He’s the ‘weaker sex’ (just kidding)
21. Where was your first date?
Neither of us grew up with the concept of ‘dating’ so there wasn’t really a first date, future dates unlikely either.
22. Who is more jealous?
lol ask him.
23. How long did it take to get serious?
I have always been serious. Then again, if we define serious as “planning to get married” that takes thing to a whole new level that neither of us can be sure. After all, it’s India vs. China.
24. Who eats more?
If the question is ‘who CAN eat more’ the answer would be him; after all he’s 0.7lb/ inch heavier. Otherwise, it depends on the day.
25. Who does the laundry?
We do our own. He’s the one who has piles all around the room though.
26. Who’s better with the computer?
He is.
27. Who drives when you are together?
So far, mostly me, mostly because my car is older and I have more confidence driving in the States (he’s used to driving in India where there are no lanes nor traffic rules). So when we go to Snoqualmie we’ll take focus when we’re traveling between our own place and / or other errands, he’d drive. Otherwise he prefers to drive when he’s comfortable enough.
I love him for making me a better person.
