💖 How I Met My Perfect Mismatch: Language, Love, and a Life Together

Before starting my story, take a look at this adorable manga-style drawing of a couple that I created using AI prompts here Artbreeder. I didn’t manage to make it look like us at all.🤷‍♀️ BUT It looks amazing and it is great what we can do nowadays and all the possibilities available! ✨

Serbian by birth, I have always been deeply passionate about languages and embarked on a continuous journey of self-discovery through exploring the world. From a young age, I was captivated by the melody of French, which led me on a path that transformed my life in unexpected and beautiful ways.

A Passion for Language and Travel

My love affair with languages began as a child, with French being my first love. Studying English alongside French, I became fluent in both, eventually majoring in French. Driven to perfect my skills, I started traveling at 19, each trip an opportunity to immerse myself deeper into the languages I adored.

By 23, I added Spanish to my repertoire, which opened doors to a whole new world. I became a French teacher and worked as a freelance translator and reviewer. Always eager to challenge myself, I began exploring Portuguese, intrigued by its similarities to Spanish. In 2015, I tried out some language apps to start learning Brazilian Portuguese—a decision that would set the stage for one of the most significant meetings of my life.

Our Unlikely Beginning

In 2015, my now-husband messaged me, hoping to practice his French. I replied briefly, but our conversation faded out until April 2016, when I decided to reply again, just before a planned trip to Prague. Our exchange instantly captivated me. We spoke about philosophy, and then he sent a recording of himself playing guitar and singing—a moment I remember vividly. His charm and openness intrigued me, and I was drawn to his thoughtful spirit.

The first time we met over video, I was immediately struck by his warmth, his deep love for the French language, and his dedication to learning the piano. Language could have been a barrier—his French was limited, and he didn’t speak English, so we began communicating in Portuguese. The challenge only added to the excitement, and we would spend hours talking, connecting deeply in our conversations.

Falling in Love Despite the Differences

When we met in person in August 2016, everything fell into place. Despite coming from different worlds—me, a Serbian with a fair complexion, and him, a Brazilian of mixed heritage—our bond felt natural and right. He’s quieter and more introverted, while I tend to be more outgoing, but we share the same values, which makes all the difference.

Incredibly, after just 10 days together, he asked me to marry him. I remember feeling both thrilled and scared; the pace and intensity of our connection felt almost surreal. But he was so calm and understanding, listening to each of my fears without a trace of impatience. That calmness, his readiness to listen deeply and offer advice, is one of the things I love most about him. From the beginning, he has been my rock, always there to support and encourage me.

I wondered how my family would react, but to my joy, they welcomed him warmly. We quickly realized we were a “perfect mismatch.” We may not look alike or come from similar backgrounds, but our differences make us stronger together. We share values, make decisions swiftly, and are always aligned on what’s important.

Building a Family Together

Our three children, Artur, Mateo, and Olivija, each carry a unique blend of our backgrounds. Artur, with his brown skin, has sparked some curious looks and even a few misguided comments in public. But these moments have only reinforced my conviction that love and family go far beyond appearances.

I’m grateful to see the world growing more open-minded, with interracial and international families like ours becoming more accepted. While some may see our differences at first glance, we see a powerful bond built on shared dreams, values, and trust.

A Perfect Mismatch

We didn’t match on paper or by appearance, but I couldn’t have chosen a better partner to share this life. He is my friend and the person I can rely on through every journey. Even our son Artur, though only seven, occasionally teases us by saying, “Serbia and Brazil do not go well together,” then laughs and adds, “but it is over right now.” His innocent humor is a reminder that, while we may come from different worlds, our family is beautifully whole.

Our story is proof that sometimes, love finds us where we least expect it—beyond similarities, in the depths of shared dreams.