Small World, Big Love: The Story of Olga and Stefano
How an Italian and a Polish woman met
For Valentine's Day, we have a special story for you from one of our favorite couples – Olga and Stefano. She grew up near Łódź, and he hails from southern Italy. Stefano wrote about their love story, how in many ways "the world is small," and added a few words about choosing and collaborating on ordering a giddy engagement ring. First, here's the original version in English; below you'll find the translation. Photos by Ania Margoszczyn. Enjoy!
How many times in life can you hear, "What a small world!"? By definition, we use this phrase to express surprise when we meet someone we know or learn about a close connection with someone unusual. I say it myself to convey that no matter where you come from, where you live, or which direction you're heading; there can always and everywhere be the perfect moment when something unexpected happens, and the world turns out to be small and cozy. The day I first met Olga overlapped with my first day at work – 5 years ago, in Warsaw. I can imagine how you'll react to this sentence, thinking, "That's typical," but please stay with me for a deeper context. What was unexpected, and what still makes me laugh, was that the office of my new job was located in a long-forgotten, industrial district of Warsaw – Annopol. The last stop of tram no. 4, surrounded by allotment gardens, factories, and nothingness, was where I headed every day. It's not the most romantic place to "bumper someone," especially your future wife. Furthermore, considering that I'm from southern Italy (Google shows 2,164 km from my hometown to Annopol) and that Olga comes from a town 40 km from Łódź, you might imagine the chances of these two meeting in the same place at the same time are close to zero, yet we did. The work was interesting, and the chance to exchange glances with Olga was the reason for my morning wake-up calls and daily ride on tram no. 4.
Luna Ring: Symbol of Love
The second part of the story—which I hope proves my earlier theory—concerns a beautiful engagement ring. Thanks to it, I heard the crucial "yes." My search for the perfect engagement ring took some time and effort. It wasn't about my uncertainty about my future with Olga, but about the importance of the symbolism. I wanted the ring to have a special meaning for both of us. Luckily for me, the search ended when I came across the LUNA ring by Instagram star Trzpiotka. I knew immediately the ring would be perfect, and I began to ponder, filled with euphoria, what it could mean to us. So, the three stones could symbolize Olga and me, and our dog, Nela, who shared our love and our bed every day! A typical story, right? In this case, Natalia and Paulina played a special role. They not only crafted our beloved diamond Luna, but also patiently accepted all my questions and requests. Like when I first saw my dream ring – in the abandoned Złote Tarasy shopping mall. Natalia offered to open the box for me, seeing my hands shaking with emotion. I smile as I recall the journey we took, from Paulina's workshop, through Natalia's hands, to (a few months later) the summit of Pico Ruivo, Madeira. There, the ring finally landed on Olga's finger. Small world, right? ps. Upon returning, the ring proved too big, and Olga was afraid it might fall off her finger. Just like in superhero movies, the flighty sisters took care of it, and a few days later, Luna was back where she belonged. :) Olga is wearing a gold LUNA ring with three diamonds.
Olga https://www.instagram.com/olgaszkudlarek/
Stefano https://www.instagram.com/stefano_5_/
photos Ania Magoszczyn https://www.instagram.com/ania.margoszczyn/
And this is how Stefano described this story in his own words in English:
How many times have you heard someone exclaiming "It's a small world"? By definition it's used to express surprise at seeing someone we know or discovering a personal connection with someone in a distant place or unexpected place. Personally, I intend and use it as a way to say that it does not matter where you are from, where you are now or where you're going. Any time and any place in this world can be the right one for something special to happen and that's when the world itself feels smaller and cozier to me.
My first meeting with Olga coincided with my first day of work at my first company, 5 years ago in Warsaw. I can already imagine a comment quickly popping up into your mind - "That's quite common" - but please, bear with me and let me give you a better context. By the way, I agree - that's indeed quite usual - so what's "uncommon" (and always gets me smiling) was that this office was located in the god-forsaken industrial area of Annopol, Warsaw - last stop of tram number 4, surrounded by factories, plots & nothingness . It's not a place that you may stumble upon during your daily or even weekly routine and, trust me, it's not exactly the most romantic place on earth or, at least, not the place where you would expect to encounter your future wife-to-be.
Moreover, if you consider that I'm originally from South of Italy (Google suggests around 2164 km of driving distance to Annopol from my hometown) whereas Olga comes from a town 40 Km west of Łódź - so the chances to meet exactly in that same place & moment are closer to 0%. Nevertheless, it was a fun place to work and honestly the chance to just exchange glances every day with Olga was the strongest drive to wake up in the morning and ride the beloved no. 4 until its end.
The second story - which I hope will help prove my initial point - relates to the beautiful engagement ring which got me the most important "Si" I've ever wanted. My research for the perfect engagement ring took quite some time & efforts. To me it was never a point of being sure about my future with Olga, however I believe in the importance of some symbols, especially when you want to feel them being really yours by giving them your own meanings. Fortunately for me the research was over once I saw for the first time the Luna ring on Trzpiotka's instagram page; right from the spot, I knew it was the right one for us and I was literally euphoric about it since I jokingly thought in my head that those three stones would be perfectly representing us - meaning me & Olga + Nela, our little dog, who shares our love and our bed daily! Yet again - quite a common story, isn't it?
Well, in this case the exceptional part is played by Natalia & Paulina; not only did they craft our beloved white diamond Luna, but they were always there to bear with all my questions and requests, with my anxiety alternated to moments of cheerfulness. Like when I first saw the ring - in a deserted Zloty Tarasy - with Natalia offering to open the package for me since I could not keep my hands steady, by how much they were shaking from the emotion. Once again, my face naturally turns into a smile if I take a moment to reflect on the path of this ring, from Paulina's craft shops, through Natalia's hands and, after few months, on the top of Pico Ruivo, on Madeira island, where it reached its final destination by perfectly fitting Olga's finger . Small world - isn't it? Ps. - We actually had to downsize slightly the ring once back in Warsaw. It turned out that in normal conditions, meaning not after hiking at dawn, the ring was a bit loose and made Olga scared she might lose it. As in any superhero movies, Trzpiotka's sisters took care of it and after a couple of days it was back on where it belonged :)"
