Kiawna and Massimo

“Waking up every morning knowing that I’m one day closer to seeing him again is what keeps me going and motivates me every single day,” Kiawna said in an email interview.

Photo by Kiawna Brewster

Kiawna, 19, and Massimo, 19, met during Kiawna’s senior year at Nipomo High School in Nipomo, Calif., through a mutual friend.

Kiawna and Massimo started dating in March 2010. Three months later, the couple began their long-distance relationship when Massimo returned to his home in Cornuda, Italy, after completing a year at Nipomo High School as a foreign exchange student.

Before their long-distance relationship began, Kiawna and Massimo spent every day together for nearly five months. When Massimo returned to Italy after his foreign exchange program ended, the idea of ending their relationship wasn’t an option.

All we knew was that we had fallen for each other and fallen hard,” Kiawna said. “We were determined to be together no matter what, regardless of the 6,000-mile gap between us.

Kiawna is currently a sophomore at California State University, Sacramento, in Sacramento, Calif. Massimo is a freshman at the Università degli Studi di Padova in Padua Padova, Italy.

Kiawna and Massimo believed that continuing their relationship long-distance would be a test of their love and strength for each other.

“We knew that if we stuck it out, the bond and the strong foundation that we would have would offer us a lifetime of appreciation for each other,” Kiawna said.

Being in a long-distance relationship for about a year and three months has been made easier by the visits the couple share with each other every three to five months.

Photo my Kiawna Brewster

Because Kiawna’s dad is a pilot, she is able to fly to Italy at a cheaper price to visit Massimo. In 2010, Kiawna was able to fly to Italy to see Massimo during the summer, winter and spring. In 2011, the couple was able to spend the summer together in California since Massimo was able to visit using a free plane ticket provided through his foreign exchange program.

Though Kiawna and Massimo won’t be able to see each other again until December, they use Skype and Facebook to stay connected to each other.

“We use Skype every single day,” Kiawna said. “It’s literally our best friend besides each other!”

The nine-hour time difference between Kiawna and Massimo has made it difficult for them to designate a time to have their daily Skype chats, however.

Living in different countries has also made it hard for Kiawna and Massimo to text message or call each other. However, Kiawna uses Skype mobile to receive text messages and calls from Massimo when she’s on the go.

Kiawna and Massimo use Facebook to share pictures, songs, links and countdowns with each other. When the couple wants to personalize their communication, they send each other romantic letters through the mail.

Occasionally I send him letters with my perfume, CDs with slideshows or just cute things to make him smile,” Kiawna said. “I never tell him though; I love more than anything when I catch him by surprise.

Photo by Kiawna Brewster

For Kiawna, sending Massimo letters is much more personal than using technology.

“I like the idea that he is looking at my own handwriting and smelling his favorite perfume and I know that the little things like that make it more special to him as well,” Kiawna said.

Massimo has also sent Kiawna romantic letters through the mail.

He sent me one that I will never forget,” Kiawna said. “It was a giant card with a pressed rose inside where he also enclosed a poem that meant the world to me. He has left me notes in my purses to find when we part that always make me feel closer to him when we are flying apart.

Though love letters and Skype chats help Kiawna and Massimo connect with each other, being in a long-distance relationship during college has put a strain on their relationship.

“Since we are in college, naturally some insecurities arise such as partying and becoming close to other boys or girls, however, it’s nothing that we haven’t ever been able to work out together and talk about,” Kiawna said.

Photo by Kiawna Brewster

Being in a long-distance relationship has helped Kiawna and Massimo get to know each other better and learn more about each other’s insecurities, fears and worries.

“We talk to each other every single day and learn so much about each other constantly, while most couples that are physically together don’t seem to truly take that quality time to just sit down and get to know each other better past the surface level,” Kiawna said.

When Kiawna and Massimo do get to visit each other, saying goodbye at the end of a visit is always hardest.

“Dealing with saying goodbye four times has always put such an emotional strain on us and given us great heartache, but I believe that the courage of a love that is able to bid farewell for months and grant the heart patience until it is time to embrace each other again is one that is to be envied, acknowledged and treasured,” Kiawna said.

Being in a long-distance relationship has made Kiawna appreciate Massimo more and cherish the times that she and Massimo can kiss and hold each other. Kiawna has also gained more respect for Massimo knowing that he is willing to wait for several months to see her while staying committed to her.

Photo by Kiawna Brewster

Most difficult for Kiawna and Massimo is physically spending time together knowing that it has to end, “when it seems like a big countdown until one of the worst days of your life,” Kiawna said.

“The goodbyes make it extremely hard on the heart, but we know that we are strong enough to surpass anything…the goodbyes are only temporary, anyhow,” Kiawna said.

Knowing that the distance isn’t forever and that they will be together again has helped Kiawna and Massimo stay strong during their long-distance relationship.

Massimo is saving money to visit Kiawna in the summer of 2012. The couple won’t have to say another heartbreaking goodbye, however, since Kiawna will be spending her junior year of college studying abroad in Italy.

Kiawna believes that being in a long-distance relationship gives couples a unique opportunity to connect with each other on a level that cannot be fully achieved by couples who haven’t dealt with the distance.

“Just being able to have the strength to be apart from your other half for a certain amount of time means true love and will give you such a strong bond that will never be able to break,” Kiawna said. “Just stick it through; it’s such a beautiful thing that should be admired. What a great feeling it is that somebody across the country or even the world loves you so much” they would give up anything to be with you.

In order for long-distance relationships to stay strong, Kiawna believes every relationship must have trust, honesty, sincerity, love, passion, loyalty, friendship, nurturing and a sense of humor.

Couples in love shouldn’t end their relationships just because they are afraid of the distance between them and their partner. Kiawna said.

Don’t ruin something that could be amazing because of fear,” Kiawna said. “What will come out of the distance once it’s done is the biggest reward in love that anyone could ask for.