Intern in Love

Ming L. Hsu '00 interned at the same non-profit civil rights organization in Washington, D.C. as Stephen H. Chen, the National Asian Pacific American Legal Consortium. Sharing interests in civil rights and public service, specifically in connection with Asian immigrants, the pair hit it off right away.

The Facts. Ming, a California native, is a joint concentrator in social studies and religion, living in Lowell House. Stephen earned a degree from the Graduate School of Education in 1996 and recently finished law school at Emory University in Atlanta. The couple does not have concrete wedding plans yet.

A Normal Relationship. The pair has spent most of their relationship separated by thousands of miles. Ming said the distance was difficult to deal with, but it has made their upcoming life together seem that much more exciting. They are engaged, but before they set a date, they want to spend some time living together in Washington, D.C. to test out their relationship in a normal dating situation.

Too Young?

"I didn't expect to get married so soon after college, but I guess it's all about finding right person," Ming says.

Plans. Ming deferred admission to New York University Law School for a year to live with Stephen in Washington. She will spend the summer working at the Brookings Institute as part of an Institute of Politics fellowship, then work on civil rights for the Department of Justice. Stephen will work for the U.S. Senate, Office of Legislative Council.

Tropical Romance

Hawaiians Jon P. Lim '00 and Jill E. Hayashi met in seventh grade in Honolulu. Soon, they were high school sweethearts.

The Facts. Jon, from Kailua, concentrates in East Asian Studies and lives in Leverett House. Jill, from Kaneohe, started out at Scripps College in Claremont, Ca., then transferred to Boston University for her senior year. She graduates this spring with a degree in elementary education. The two are planning a large Christian ceremony, inviting about 400 people to Kailua on July 23. They will honeymoon in Montana near Yellowstone National Park.

Ring Tricks. Jon wanted his proposal to be a surprise, so he had to invent a ruse to steal one of Jill's rings long enough to compare it to his pinky, then return it before she noticed. Since Jon, the perfect gentleman, had already asked Jill's family's permission for her hand in marriage, he was able to have Jill's grandmother's diamond reset in a new engagement ring for Jill.

A Mountainous Proposal. Jon proposed this last Thanksgiving break in Colorado. Jill, Jon and two of Jon's brothers were off in the Rocky Mountains on a reunion for his church youth group.

One of Jon's brothers, in on the plan, suggested a seemingly innocent double date to a natural amphitheater in Red Rocks National Park. The brother then slipped off ahead, and Jill was soon surprised to find a bunch of roses among the rocks. When, a few yards further on, there was another bouquet waiting, along with a guitar in the bushes nearby, Jill realized there was something odd afoot.

When Jon picked up the guitar and began to play a song he'd written for the occasion, about "two children splashing in puddles of love," Jill's jaw dropped. He asked, she said yes.

But the adventure was still not quite over. Continuing on the hike, Jill soon found a towel and a small thermos of warm water by the path. Jon used the water to wash Jill's feet.