Claire Drinkwater, originally from London, has revealed the extraordinary story of how she completely uprooted her life to move to a new country for a man she met while on vacation. Her journey began in 2014, when she decided to take a year off from her demanding media job, feeling burnt out and recovering from a difficult breakup.
A Fateful Encounter in New Zealand
Drinkwater embarked on a backpacking adventure across nine countries in Asia, Oceania, and South America. Months into her travels, while on a bus tour of New Zealand's South Island, she met Steeve, a French man living in Belgium who had just started his own solo journey.
"We ended up sitting together on the bus and kept chatting," she recalled in an exclusive interview. "That evening, after a group barbecue, he suggested we walk down to the beach to watch the sunset together. We talked for hours about our lives and what had brought us there. It felt like we'd known each other for a long time, even though we had just met."
From Casual Connection to Serious Commitment
Despite their immediate connection, Drinkwater admitted she didn't expect it to become serious. "When you're traveling, you get used to people moving on often, so you don't want to get attached too quickly," she explained. When the tour ended, they said goodbye but stayed in touch.
A couple of weeks later, on a whim, Drinkwater invited Steeve to join her in Bali. To her surprise, he accepted, and they traveled together intermittently for several months, visiting Bali, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand. As their bond deepened, they found it increasingly difficult to be apart.
The Life-Changing Decision to Move Abroad
When Steeve concluded his travels and returned to his home in Brussels, Belgium, Drinkwater made the bold decision to move in with him. However, adjusting to life in a foreign country while navigating a new relationship proved challenging.
"Our relationship had grown out of all these amazing experiences in different places, so I was curious what it would feel like once we settled into a routine," she shared. "And adjusting to life in Belgium wasn't always easy, especially rebuilding my career and navigating daily life in a new language."
Overcoming Challenges and Building a New Life
Drinkwater emphasized that establishing her own life in Belgium separately from Steeve was crucial. "Gradually things fell into place," she said. "After only a few months I found a permanent communications role with a great team in Brussels, and over time the city started to feel like home. His family and friends were really welcoming, and having a stable base together felt really nice."
A Lasting Love Story Twelve Years Later
Now, twelve years after their initial meeting, Drinkwater and Steeve are still together and thriving. "This year we're celebrating 12 years since meeting on that trip through New Zealand, which feels surreal," she gushed. "Moving to Belgium was something I never imagined, but it turned out to be a great decision."
Her advice to others considering similar leaps? "Be open to where life takes you," she advised, highlighting the importance of embracing unexpected opportunities and maintaining open communication in relationships.
