To Tinder We Go: Finding Love in the Digital Age

    Like many others, we found the internet was more than just a source of entertainment from TikTok and YouTube. It could also connect us with like-minded people—and maybe even lead to love.

Finding love online, like in real life, is no easy feat. I encountered a lot of different characters: some seeking friendship, others attention, and even a few trying to scam me with tales of riches and Bitcoin. I talked to many, good and bad, but finding someone truly compatible takes time.

I was always upfront about my intentions—I was looking for love, and if they were interested in exploring that possibility, we could get to know each other. Thus began a long journey of getting to know many people, a journey I imagine Norjaima shared.

    July, 2021 - We Found Each Other

By this point, I had made many online friends, but no one had yet stolen my heart. Once I found Norjaima and got to know her, I knew the game was over. I had found my princess. Ironically, I later learned that Norjaima's nickname is Bai, which means "princess" in her dialect.

Norjaima was initially looking for friends, but I won her over with my Viking charm. The rest is history. I traveled to Thailand to visit her—my first time in Asia. I wouldn't have taken such a long trip for anyone else, but she had captured my heart, and it was worth traveling around the world to see her.

Coming from northern Norway, my body was not prepared for the tropical heat of Thailand. My skin burned, I sweated constantly, and I was dizzy all the time until I figured out that I needed to carry a backpack filled with water, soda, and iced tea. I was constantly drinking, my body expelling the liquid as sweat just as fast as I consumed it. At least I know what to expect when I visit the Philippines and Norjaima's family next time.

Norjaima came to Norway in October 2023 on a tourist visa. We got married on December 20th, and we are now building our life together here on Andøya!

Since we are married, Norjaima has applied for permanent residency in Norway. I'll write more about our experience with the application in a later post, but I can tell you that we applied in January 2024 and are still waiting for an answer five months later.