WM: How did you meet? Tell us your story

We met when Alex was in 12th grade and I was in 11th grade. I wanted to organize a party at my house and asked my friend Maria for some phone numbers of students in 12th grade. I called and asked him to come without knowing who he was. He was very polite and apologized that he could not make it since he was returning from a football match. The next day he came looking for me and asked me how the party went. And so we began talking.

WM: Did you have a favorite place for a date in Bucharest?

About 1 week after we had started talking, Alex asked me out to lunch at Balthazar, which became our favorite place in Bucharest. We realized we had so much in common. Long story short, six months later, he decided to take a gap year to wait for me to graduate from AISB, and we moved from Romania together.

WM: What about your favorite hang-out spot at AISB?

Our favorite place at AISB was the café, where we used to have breakfast and talkbefore classes. We were the first ones
to come, so we had the whole café for ourselves.

WM: Who proposed and how?

Last year, on our trip to Hong Kong, Alex proposed. While we had been living together for 7 years, it came as a surprise since we never seriously discussed anything about marriage.


WM: When and where did you get married?

This July we got married in Bucharest surrounded by our closest friends and family.

WM: What were the best things about studying at AISB?

AISB has been great for both of us. We developed useful skills such as teamwork, which is crucial in managing a restaurant and business. Also, AISB helped us learn how to value and respect all cultures and nationalities which is again salient for our business and life in Cyprus.

WM: What have you done since AISB? Where are you now?

Luckily, after graduating from AISB, I got accepted to the same university as Alex in London, and we left AISB together. After graduating, he started his Master’s Degree at Oxford, while I began Le Cordon Bleu Culinary School. Upon graduating from university and our further studies, we decided to move to Cyprus and open our own restaurant, Sunset Breeze.

WM: Describe your experience of AISB in three words.

International, fun, challenging.

WM: How did you meet? Tell us your story. 
 

We met at AISB, in the 10th grade. We were just friends for 1 year and then moved forward to the next level.
 

WM: What was your favorite hang-out spot at AISB?

The grass area in front of the Romanian Classroom at that time.

WM: While still in high school, did you have a favorite place for a date in Bucharest? What about now?

It’s been a while, we used to hang out at home or enjoy occasional trips out of town. We did not even have too much timefor going out as we had many differentafter class activities. We are now enjoying family time in the park and mostly at our restaurant, the Red Angus Steakhouse.

WM: Who proposed and how?

Dragos proposed, of course. He got me a surprise trip to Paris on our 7th anniversary, he booked a wonderful cruise dinner on Seine, and while we were there, he asked the big question! :)

WM: When and where did you get married?

Here, in Bucharest, 3 years ago in July. It was the hottest day of that year!

WM: What were the best things about studying at AISB?

Coming from the Romanian school system, the best thing was that it allows you to think by yourself, doubt, ask questions, and really get involved in the learning system. The relationship you got to develop with teachers was so supportive!

WM: What have you done since AISB?

After the IB we both went to Vienna to Webster University and studied for a Bachelor of Business Administration. Then we came back to Romania and starteddeveloping the plan for our first business,the Red Angus Steakhouse. This needed a lot of research time, traveling around the world, etc. It’s been 4 years since we have opened the Red Angus Steakhouse in the Old Town. Now, we are almost done with the newest concept, a premium restaurant called The Beef Club, that will open on Ermil Pangratti Street, in early 2015.

WM: Describe your experience of AISB in three words.

Memorable, motivating, challenging.

WM: How did you meet? Tell us your story

We met in Bucharest. Each year, AISB takes the teachers to the mountains for a weekend retreat and we got to know each other better during that time. For John, itwas love at first sight. For Rosella, ... well,let’s just say it took a little longer.

WM: Do you have a favorite place for a date in Bucharest?

We quite like Piccolo Mondo. We wentthere our first year here and still like thefood and the atmosphere.


WM: Who proposed and how?

John proposed to Rosella about a year after we had met. Having not discussed marriage, Rosella was somewhat surprised but (fortunately) did agree.

WM: When and where did you get married?

We got married at Sacred Heart church in Bucharest. 
 

WM: What about the boys? How have they shaped your life in Romania and at AISB?

Our boys were both born in Bucharest and we are proud to say they speakRomanian fluently. As with all parents, ourlives happily revolve around them. We love that we work at the same place they go to school as we can take the occasional peek into their classroom when we have a chance.

WM: What are the best things about being at AISB?

Great colleagues to work with and we have been so happy and grateful for Kyran and Fabyano’s teachers over the years. AISB truly has wonderful, committed and caring teachers, which we as parents have really appreciated.

WM: Describe your experience of AISB in three words.

Three words is difficult. I think the fact wehave been here for 12 years speaks to how much we like the school and the country.

WM: How did you meet? Tell us your story
 

We met through our mutual friends atschool. We were both extremely differentfrom each other back then, but somehow we made it work. We have both grown up together and matured in so many ways. It is quite funny to look back at how we started. We both never thought that the awkward 15 year olds would end up married. We have AISB to thank for us being so lucky to have met each other at such a young age.

 

WM: Did you have a favorite place for a date in Bucharest?

We loved going to Caru Cu Bere in Lipscani. Walking around the old town was always fun. As well as going to the movies,we definitely miss how cheap it was.

WM: What about your favorite hang-out spot at AISB?

We would often hang out in the IB study room together, and on the couches in the HS corridors.

WM: Who proposed and how?

Alex proposed in the summer of 2013. We were on a cruise from Florida to the Bahamas. The night of the formal dinner we were all dressed up, had dinner, and then went to the deck of the ship. He then got down on one knee at sunset and asked the question, of course Jessica said yes.

WM: When and where did you get married?

We got married a year after we got engaged, this past August (2014). We decided to get married in Annapolis, Maryland. The wedding was small and intimate and took place at the courthouse. Not all of our friends and family could be there due to our geographical spread. I guess we partly have AISB to thank for that, we have friends all over the globe.

WM: What were the best things about studying at AISB?

The IB program, even though the process of it was grueling, when you look back you realize how prepared it makes you for university. The whole schooling experience was unique, we loved participating in CEESA events, as we have so many memories from the various sports and activities we participated in.

WM: What have you done since AISB? Where are you now?

Alex is at the University of St Andrews studying computer science and Jessica is at Queen Margaret University, Edinburghstudying nursing. We are both in our finalyear and can’t wait till we graduate and see where our next adventure takes us. Alex is applying to PHD programs and we are in the nerve-wracking period of waiting to see where he gets accepted to see where in the world we might end up.

WM: Describe your experience of AISB in three words.

Amazing, unique, and memorable.


Read the entire WORLD Magazine Winter 2014 edition here.