This is Olana (and his bae Leanne). They met on Tinder but he tells everyone they met at the gym.
Olana was born in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia to a mum who was a cashier and a dad who looked like a Get Down Brother. His little bro Ayana (aka Bubu) was and still is, his bezdawg.
When he was a young boy he moved to Norway, because back then (and still now) Ethiopia wasn’t a good place for Oromo people. He was great at all sports, no good at school and terrible with the ladies as he was so shy despite having 304 abs. One year ago, he left Bubu and the snows of Norway to come to Australia for a holiday with the plan of then going to New Zealand and Canada. But then he swiped right on Leanne.
The first day they met he was very nervous because he got lost on the way #publictransportvictoria and was late ‘I put myself in her shoes and I would be annoyed, so I was worried she wouldn’t like me.’ However Leanne didn’t mind cos he is one of the sweetest, kindest, nicest, politest and most sincere dudes you could ever meet. Plus he hawt.
The date went good, and as the dates continued she saw a shiny gem hiding behind the shyness, and well.. They now live together and dance around to Burning Spear and Usher while making omelettes for breakfast. As O says the kiwis and Canadians can wait – “it was not my intention to stay. At all. But when you find someone who loves you, your plans change”.
When did you realise you loved her?
When she showed me how much she cared about me. The way she helped me, she took her time for me. It’s not easy to find someone who cares for you. When it’s right you feel it. You just know.
Who said it first?
I remember I think we loved each other but we just showed it and didn’t say it. I think she said it the first time but I already knew I loved her before she told me.
What did you say when she told you?
I told her “I know – I feel it”
What would be your ultimate Valentine’s Day date?
We would go for a long walk in nature, then I would cook her some nice food. Afterwards we would walk to a bar and drink some Campari together.
What is your advice for falling in love?
Just be honest and open about what you want and what you feel. If you want to experience love you have to be honest. Love is a good thing.
Fun facts
• Leanne’s friends and family call him Buffrica (buff African).
• After Leanne took him out for three courses at a fancy restaurant he asked if they could go to “the spaghetti place” (Pellegrini’s) afterwards cos he was still hungry.
• They are both sporty and competitive. When they stayed at a 5-star hotel recently, they busted out into sprints and did running races down the hallway.
This weekend in Melbourne
Bruthen Blues & Arts Festival @ Bruthen (17-19 Feb) – someone’s bruthen gets all bluesy, artsy and festy this weekend
T20 Cricket: Australia vs. Sri Lanka @ MCG & Geelong (17 & 19 Feb) – if you get hit in the face with balls then it’s your lucky night my frand.
Riverboats Music Festival @ Echuca/Moama (17-19 February) – do lake boats and billabong boats also exist?
Apollo Bay Seafood Festival @ Apollo Bay (18 – 19 Feb) – eat Nemo and his mates while looking out at the beautiful view of their previous home.
Red Dog True Blue Outdoor Cinema @ Plumpton (18th Feb) – dogs should be permitted EVERYWHERE. I know it’s not Germany but one day, if we’re lucky, it could be.
Twilight Beach Polo @ West Beach Pavilion (17 Feb) – the last polo match of the season. Whatever will Ralph Lauren do lol
Make Yourself At Home @ Juddy Roller (17-26 Feb) – followed by ‘Help yourself to what’s in the fridge’ and ‘The TV remote is over there’.
Deniliquin Fishing Classic @ Denny mate (15-17 Feb) – stick a hook in it and make it sink. Just like a DJ set.
Cowes Classic @ Phillip Island (18 Feb) – there are two cows in a field. One says ‘Moo’ the other says ‘I was just about to say that’
Great Australian Beer Festival @ Geelong (18 Feb) – What’s so good about beer? Said no Australia ever. Trolololol we are all alcoholics.
Meeniyan Garlic Festival @ South Gippo (18 Feb) – the only place on earth safe from Twilight fans
1 comment
Fabulous newsey stuff that this Goldfish is very interested in reading, loving that its catering to my attention span 🙂