sweet dreaming.

These hometown sweethearts, J and Bianca {from Sweet Dreaming}, have learned to navigate all kinds of long distance during their college years. This semester, they'll be relying on the skills they have learned over the years when they are half a world away. J is studying in Europe, while she's down under in Australia. Their determination to make things work and Bianca's optimism make this long distance relationship one for the record books...

Name: Bianca 

Significant Other's Name:  J

When did you start dating? We met the summer before our freshman year of college, started dating around Thanksgiving, and finally took the big leap into a long-distance relationship in February 2010.

At what point did you begin dating long distance? Our relationship has always been long distance, which is why we were so hesitant to start it. During the school year, I am at Penn State and J is in DC. This semester, he is interning in California, and in the spring, we will both be studying abroad (J will be in Europe and I will be in Australia). On top of that, we almost always intern away from home during the summer. Luckily, we are from the same hometown, so we can always touch base back at home together.

How do you fill your days while you're apart? We are both in college, so it is easy to keep ourselves busy and pursue our own interests. We have the freedom to be independent, while keeping in touch and supporting each other. It might also be a little distracting if we went to the same school! It doesn't keep me from wishing we did ;)

What do you find most difficult about being long distance? The hardest thing for me is having a rough day, especially when I know just seeing him is all I would need to feel better. It also takes some savvy time management to coordinate our schedules and stay connected. At times, it requires a TON of effort and compromise on both sides, but it is all worth it. Distance only keeps you apart if you let it.

What do you enjoy most about the time you have together? When we see each other, it is like a mini-vacation, especially since I have had the opportunity to visit DC and LA. We can be more independent and pursue our own passions wherever we are, but we can still share them with one another. It also makes us more grateful for the time that we do have together. Even though we have been to some exciting places, we are just as happy to hang out at home doing nothing at all.

How has long distance changed your relationship? We have had to learn to communicate--and we also appreciate each other much more. Having J as my boyfriend is one of the best and most important parts of my life, but there is more to me than our relationship and there is more to J than our relationship. Being apart strengthens our relationship because we can be independent people who are not defined by our relationship. We are incredibly supportive of each other, which keeps our relationship strong.

Is there any end in sight to your long distance days? We spend our breaks and holidays together and visit whenever we can. It always seem like we are millions of miles away, but somehow we always find our way back to each other. It is far from easy to maintain a long distance relationship, and I miss him every second, but I know that there are good times ahead.

I'm thinking of J and Bianca as they start this extreme stint of long distance--I have full faith they will make it through these cross-continental months. Her optimism should bring encouragement to everyone in a long distance relationship! Be sure to give her some love today on her sweet blog--your mouth will definitely be watering when you read it ;) See you all tomorrow!