Virginia's Age: 28

Occupation: Other than managing a social media company, I am a hyper-connector. I bring the right people together so they can create business magic. This is why the next company I'm starting is an investment fund. Other than that, I am a content creator and an actress.

Relationship Status: Very much in love. My boyfriend and I call each other husband and wife, and we have rings and everything, but we are not officially married.

Where are you from?

I was born in Berlin, Germany, but when I was three years old, I moved to Miami. Since then, I have lived in the Dominican Republic, Spain, Ireland, Australia, the UK, Italy, and many other countries.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

That it is exactly as much fun as I imagined.

What's the most annoying thing your parents do?

When I go to visit my mom, she fusses over everything I eat, wear, and do — in a critical way, though, and it drives me crazy.

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

Managing my businesses and my relationships. On the one hand, I want to spend all my time with my boyfriend laying on a beach in the Seychelles, and on the other hand, I want to build my empire. Puts me in a pickle.

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

Bitcoin or Etherium.

What do you do on a night out?

Make friends with the whole club and dance on the tables.

How do people meet for dates here?

My favorite place to meet people is at business events and conferences. It’s the best way to meet like-minded hustlers.

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

Someone who is negative or small-minded. I need my partner to love himself and see the incredible potential we have in this universe.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

Yes, absolutely!! Just not legally. I’ve been married already and just got a divorce. I honestly saw no difference or benefit in being legally married, so I think that when Oscar and I do get married, we’ll have a massive, beautiful ceremony without any legal paperwork.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

Never. That is just so disrespectful and cowardly toward your relationship.

Do you believe in love?

Love is the energy that connects all of us at all times. I believe in it very much.

Julie's Age: 25

Occupation: I work in public relations within the travel and tourism/hospitality industry at Anthology Marketing Group, the largest marketing company in the state of Hawaii.

Relationship Status: Happily dating my 8th grade crush/high school best friend.

Where are you from?

Born and raised on Oahu, HI. I'm originally from Kapolei, and am currently living in Kakaako.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

Adulting is HARD. As a kid, I thought adults had all the answers (as if you turned 21 and an all-knowing entity hands you a customized road map to success and a packet of need-to-know things before entering the workforce). Turns out, there isn’t an easy answer for everything (or an answer at all, for some things) and the majority of the time you’re figuring out the next move as it happens. I wish I knew that life has a funny way of working itself out. You don’t have a map, and sometimes big changes happen all at once, but you don’t need to freak out. Usually, you’re right where you need to be. Trust your struggle, stay true to yourself, and keep your heart strong. Also, waterproof eyeliner will last longer than a few of your personal relationships. Save yourself some time and stop chasing after those (read: bad friends and annoying boys) who don’t prove they value, respect, and support you. You do you. (Permission and/or validation from anyone else is not necessary.)

What's the most annoying thing your parents do?

I love my parents deeply. They’re everyday under-appreciated superheroes, BUT they’re not great communicators and planning ahead is a struggle. The more people involved, the worse it gets. They try really hard, though. I’m always asking, “So, what’s the plan?” and not one person knows 100 percent of the details. It’s funny that I ended up in a profession that is focused on strategic messaging and programs.

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

Balancing my finances. At 23, I moved out of my parent’s house and into my own apartment in Kakaako. Living on your own at that age isn’t common in Hawaii. I was determined and made it work back then. I'm still pushing forward to make it work now. Between rent, food, everyday household items, bills, etc., I can’t put much toward my savings, and that bothers me. Don’t get me wrong, I have everything I need, but I’m looking forward to the day where allocating funds for a rainy day isn’t an issue.

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

A plane ticket to Japan! If not, makeup and art supplies. To me, you can never have too much of either.

What do you do on a night out?

My group of friends will do one of a few things: have a BBQ and garage jam-session, grab a private room at a karaoke bar, have dinner near Ala Moana and drinks at Mai Tai Bar, or have dinner in Waikiki, then drinks at a bar like Buho Cocina y Cantina or RumFire at the Sheraton Waikiki and walk around “The Strip”/Waikiki Beach.

How do people meet for dates here?

Daytime beach or hiking dates are common. Also, hanging out in Kakaako (newly-developed area near downtown Honolulu) to see the PowWow street art murals is fun. Dinner dates are always going to be popular. However, in Hawaii, we have to keep in mind that a lot of restaurants (and shops) close around 10:00 p.m.

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

Lack of respect in all forms – domestic violence, cheating, lying, etc.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

Definitely. I like the concept of having an unwavering life partner. I like knowing that your spouse is committed to supporting, loving, and protecting you for the rest of your lives together. Marriage is a sacred thing that should be honored and cherished. Although, I have a few issues with changing my name. I don’t want a new identity, I just want us in it for the long haul.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

I would and have before. I admit that it isn’t the best way to handle it. I dated a guy long-distance during college and it just wasn’t working. I didn’t want to have to suffer through it until I went back home for the summer.

Do you believe in love?

Absolutely. However, love can only take you so far. I believe that love alone isn’t enough to make a relationship work. Love can be the reason for wanting to stick together. It’s the sacrifice, respect, and overall work both individuals put in it daily that makes a relationship last.

Meiki's Age: 27

Occupation: I am an HR manager assistant.

Relationship Status: I am married.

Where are you from?

I'm from Hunan Province, China.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

That there are many important responsibilities that arise from adulthood, from family to career, and they all pile up.

What's the most annoying thing your parents do?

They tend to quarrel, and I hate that. I am a really positive person and would like for them to always remain positive and happy, too.

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

Deciding whether to continue pursuing my career, or leave work and have another baby.

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

I would further my studying to progress career-wise.

What do you do on a night out?

Since I am married with a baby now, I tend to spend nights out at the park with my family. Before that, however, I would go to clubs, go shopping, and spend time with friends.

How do people meet for dates here?

Momo, which is an online dating app. It's common for mutual friends and family (especially parents) to try and arrange dates with people.

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

Someone who would want me to scrap my career, and get married and settle too quickly.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

I am married now, and I wanted to get married because I felt I needed a family and support structure.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

Yes, I would.

Do you believe in love?

Definitely.

Paula's Age: 20

Occupation: I’m currently going to school at ESCI-UPF in Barcelona, studying International Business and Marketing. I’m also working part-time at a pharmaceutical company in the export department. I study mornings and work afternoons. I manage orders, negotiate prices and quantities, and coordinate shipping.

Relationship Status: Right now, I have a boyfriend since a little over a year ago, and I’m really pleased.

Where are you from?

I was born and raised here in Barcelona, but my grandparents immigrated here to Catalonia (Northern Spain) 40 years ago from Andalucía (Southern Spain) and had my parents. So I’m second-generation Catalan.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

My parents tried to teach me from a young age about having a routine, being on time, and keeping my commitments, but now that I’m working, and I realize how important schedules are, I wish the concept was taught to everyone from a young age that managing your time is important. You have to get up on time, and you can’t be late.

What's the most annoying thing your parents do?

The worst thing is when my parents (mostly my mother), try to get me to be neat. It’s a problem for me because I’m really messy — and it works for me. I can find everything, but my mom just doesn't understand. She’s always on my case about it. One thing I look forward to about living on my own is being able to be as messy as I like.

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

Now, I’ve been accepted to a six-month Erasmus (study abroad) program in Argentina starting this August. It wasn’t something I was planning on, and it kind of came up, this amazing opportunity, and I thought, “Paula, if not now, when?” So my challenge is going to be to survive the experience and make the most of this opportunity.

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

Right now? I’d spend it on travel. Right now, I’m lucky enough to be with a guy who feels the same way about travel as I do. He’s a couple of years older than me, and he also has a job and money of his own. So since we both have jobs and money of our own, we spend our money on traveling and eating out.

What do you do on a night out?

Honestly, I’ve never really been one for going out to clubs, but I love to spend time with my friends, having a drink and chat on a terrace. My friends also love to talk, so I love to go out to a terrace, and catch up over drinks.

How do people meet for dates here?

I think that normally, a first date is almost always going out for a coffee or a beer around 6 or 7 p.m. Later on, for a second or third date, maybe a guy might invite you out for a nice dinner, or a movie, and that’s really fun.

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

I hate jealous behavior because I’m a very affectionate person with a lot of friends, and I like to hug my friends and talk to them. I wouldn’t tolerate someone who gave me trouble about it and told me I couldn’t hug or kiss my friends. I also really like it when someone does romantic things, like bringing me flowers occasionally, but not too often, because it can get to be too much.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

Yes. I would like to get married. My parents are still together and really in love, and in my mind, love as a lifelong commitment is idealized. I’d also like to have a party, wear a beautiful dress, and celebrate with friends and family.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

Now, I think I wouldn’t, because I believe everyone deserves an explanation in person. But I have friends who have done it because they’re far away, or for whatever reasons, and I don’t judge them; everyone has different circumstances. But for me, it wouldn’t make sense right now. I see my boyfriend every day; breaking up via text wouldn’t make sense

Do you believe in love?

Yes. Very much.

Julie-Ann's Age: 20

Occupation: I am a nurse.

Relationship Status: In a relationship. We met online, and his name is Valentinus. We’ve been together for almost two years.

Where are you from?

The Philippines, but I’ve been in Sweden for 10 years.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

How to handle negative people. Because sometimes, I feel like I don’t know how to handle these types of people, and I wish someone could have given me advice about it.

What's the most annoying thing your parents do?

When they tell me to do things I don’t like — like, cleaning.

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

I find it difficult to get into a group sometimes, so that’s the most challenging thing so far. I always feel like I’m isolated, for some reason. It’s hard to get into the [Swedish] community. I often feel left out. I’m new to this city, Malmo, and it’s hard to adjust to different locations, especially when you’re alone. I’m not used to living alone, I’m used to living with my parents.

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

Probably makeup. [Laughs] Makeup is my favorite thing.

What do you do on a night out?

I don’t normally go out, I just stay at home. When I’m with my friends, we just go to museums.

What's your relationship status?

In a relationship. We met online; his name is Valentinus. We’ve been together for almost two years.

How do people meet for dates here?

I think most people here don’t like talking. So they probably just use dating apps, and that’s how they meet. You can easily track people living closest to you, so that’s how they do it. That’s how I did it, too!

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

Someone who is abusive. Someone who hides stuff from me.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

Yes, I do want to get married, because I’d like to have kids one day. I’ve always wanted to have kids since I was young. I was always in love with [the idea of] having kids, and having a nice family, because I grew up in a big family. I want the same.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

No! I think that’s a stupid thing to do. I feel like you should communicate and meet up in real life. When you break up, I think it’s stupid to do it over text.

Do you believe in love?

I do believe in love to some extent, but it’s hard to find a person who will truly love you. I think at first, when you have your first love, that’s when you start loving someone, but at the end of the day, you get hurt, and the next person comes, and you start to get more serious, because you learn from your past relationships. Then the third love, that’s when you want to get married. This is just how I feel. I had a relationship before, and I was really hurt. We were in this long-distance relationship, and I couldn’t see him, and he couldn’t see me, either. [Right now I'm in] the second love. Between the second and the third.

Svang's Age: 21

Occupation: I'm a hotel receptionist.

Relationship Status: I am married.

Where are you from?

Siem Reap, Cambodia.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

Enjoy being young while you can.

What's the most annoying thing your parents do?

N/A

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

Nothing. Life is good!

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

(As her sister sits beside her) My family.

What do you do on a night out?

Go to the cinema with family or friends.

How do people meet for dates here?

They usually meet in cafes.

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

Spending time with other women.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

I already am.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

No.

Do you believe in love?

Of course.

Catalina's Age: 30

Occupation: I work for a tourism company, Remote Year, as the Bogota experience manager. I also have another small company I’m working on. Maybe in the next year, everything will get afloat.

Relationship Status: It’s complicated! I broke up with my ex-boyfriend, who I was with for seven years. I thought I had already turned that page, but last weekend, I saw him kissing a girl, and it was terrible. So yeah, it’s complicated. I don’t want to be with him; it’s just that I didn’t know that I’m still being affected by him. I’m in the process of healing my heart right now. I was thinking that maybe I was ready to date another guy, but then this weekend made me realize, maybe I’m not. So I need to be on my own first.

Where are you from?

I’m from Bucaramanga, Colombia, but I’ve been living in Bogotá for 11 years, so kind of both, at this point.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

I wish someone had told me the importance of working to earn your own money, and just being independent. In Colombia, we are not the same as Americans; we are really family-oriented, so when you’re 17 or 18 years old, you don’t go out of your home. You stay with your parents and go to university, and they are still paying for everything. The thing about being an adult for me, it was really surprising to start working and paying your own bills. So I wish I’d known that when I was young.

What's the most annoying thing your parents do?

I don’t know if my parents really do anything annoying! I have a young sister, and they are really concerned about her future, so I think they spoil her because they want to give her everything she wants, and I’m not into that. But for me directly, they are really cool.

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

My biggest challenge right now is working on my start-up company, so all of my focus is on my financial stability. The other thing I try to avoid, but am always thinking about, is when I’m going to find the stability between my emotional state, my financial state, and my job. Remote Year is not a career that’s stable for life, so those are the three things I want to reach on the same level.

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

If I got $1,000 I would invest it in my company.

What do you do on a night out?

I love to party. If I’m not working, I love to party; I’m really social. I also love dancing, so I love to hang out with my friends and meet new people. That’s what I usually do during the weekends. During the week, I have a good commitment with the gym, so I love to work out. For me, that’s really important, since I’m really hyperactive. I need to release all the energy through my workout.

How do people meet for dates here?

I know that Tinder and Bumble have been a really good way to meet people. But also, here in Bogotá, it’s really easy for girls to have a girls’ night out and meet guys. In the small cities in Colombia, it’s not the same, because everybody is really close to one another, so they are usually hanging out with the same people. So they aren’t open to meeting people. I think it’s better to be here; in Bogotá, you can find a lot of nightlife.

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

Someone who’s unfaithful. Violence — there’s no way. And lies. I hate lies.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

I definitely want to get married. I’m not conservative, but I grew up in a conservative family. I definitely want to get married, I want to have kids. I don’t know when, but that’s up to God. I’m really close to God — I’m not Catholic, I’m not Christian, but I really want to find a guy who could be an amazing husband, but also an amazing father.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

No, I would never break up with someone that way. I can fight over text, but [not break up]. That would be really immature.

Do you believe in love?

Yes, and I don’t want to! I’m affected right now. But yeah, I do believe in love, and I want to have the chance to feel the same [way] that I felt when I was with my ex-boyfriend. I love feeling in love with someone.

Lisa's Age: 27

Occupation: I am an SAP consultant working for IBM. To travel long-term, I changed my job, and I'm currently redesigning educational programs for our early professional new joiners.

Relationship Status: I am single.

Where are you from?

I'm from East Germany.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

Well, oh my God, I didn't think about those things, jeez! I would have loved to know that every action has consequences, and making up your mind about whether or not you can handle them or not would be good instead of just running into them.

What's the most annoying thing that your parents do?

One really, really annoying thing is that we come from East Germany, and it's normal to go to the beaches and be super naked. There's a place on the Baltic Sea where Hitler was building a place to spend free time, but then his period of rule was over before he could finish it. So the army took it over and developed it as being the area where you could run around naked. I really, really hate it, but my parents walk through the house super naked, and also go into the bathroom when I am showering, and I am freaking out! I am really annoyed by the fact that they are naked all the time — I do not like it. Sometimes I am sitting on the toilet, and my dad comes in and I'm like, “Dad, door closed!” And he is like, “Well, I have seen that, and I am like, f*ck it.”

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

I am a person who gets really easily attached to people, which is annoying. So the biggest challenge for me is to be open enough to build up new friendships, but not get directly attached to every person I meet, and not to build up those really emotionally intense relationships.

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

My grandmother is still really sick, so I definitely would spend it on her so that she would get a better room or have a great day. Definitely doing something right for my grandmother.

What do you do on a night out?

Spend a half hour thinking about what I am going to wear, then get dressed and get re-dressed again. I'll repeat this process three to four times, and then I will just go out in the clothes I always wear. I'll meet the guys/girls for drinks first, and maybe get some fries — bacon and cheese fries, I guess. And then, we will get a bit drunk or tipsy in the bar drinking Aguardiente. This happens, like, literally all the time. "Let's have a bottle of Aguardiente!" "Well, it's a Monday… OK, why not?" I am not a club person, so I would not go to a club, but I would probably stay in a bar until 5 a.m. and just sing all the songs they are playing, even though it is not a karaoke bar. And just talk.

How do people meet for dates here?

In Germany, dating for me means going to the Irish pub, just kind of looking at each other’s eyes, smiling, being a kind of sweet, cute, shy girl, which I am obviously not, and waiting until random conversation develops.

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

There are so many things. All of this farting stuff is something that is really a deal-breaker. I mean, if it happens, it happens, but if they celebrate themselves while they are doing it, then [no]. Also, people who never have an opinion, who are always like, "Yeah whatever you want." I think one thing that is really important is he needs to be grown, you know? When I come home and I am talking about work, he needs to really understand if it is something serious and give me attention, and not just watch TV as I'm sharing the most important thing in my life.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

I just thought about this yesterday. Weddings are no longer a big thing in Germany. So it is not like in the U.S., where you are together, and then you get engaged, and then you get married. In Germany, if we are together for 10 years, no one would come up with the idea to propose. It is not a big thing; we are not in this kind of Catholic mentality. We can just have sex without being married, and it is also really normal to give birth to kids without being married. But I personally definitely want to get married; it's just nothing that needs to happen soon, but I do want it. And why? Because it is like having this person who gives a lot of comfort and safeness. You also should have this if you are in a relationship, but it is different with a ring involved. It is about this feeling.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

NEVER. No. I would never break up over a text. That is ridiculous. Who is doing this?

Do you believe in love?

OMG. I had this chat with my surf instructor. We had this chat, and what I told him was that the two guys I have been in relationships with, I believe that it was really, really true love. I really loved every inch of them. But they cheated on me and broke my heart, so I don't know if I am willing or able to completely fall in love again. There will always be this kind of awareness that that happened twice and that they really, really cheated on me with too many girls. I do not believe anymore that there is just one person for you, and that you will feel it when you meet him and that your love will then grow. Love will always be work, there will always be compromises, there will always be times when you hate this person.

Amy's Age: 31

Occupation: I am a high school math teacher and resource writer.

Relationship Status: I am single.

Where are you from?

I'm from Brisbane, Australia.

What's something you wish someone told you about being an adult?

You will never know as much as you thought you would know.

What's the most annoying thing your parents do?

My dad never spent money on himself and my mother is a fussy eater.

What's your biggest challenge in life right now?

Dealing with the altitude in Bogota.

If you got $1,000, what's the first thing you would spend it on?

I would spend it on my upcoming trip in Northern Colombia.

What do you do on a night out?

Go to local bars where there is good music and we dance!

How do people meet for dates here?

Online, Gringo Tuesday's, bars, and going out.

What's the one thing you would never stand for in a romantic partner?

Being a constant victim of circumstance.

Do you want to get married? Why or why not?

Yes, if my partner wanted to. I like the idea of marriage as it formalizes the commitment, and I come from a family with strong marriages.

Would you ever break up with someone over text?

No.

Do you believe in love?

Yes.

Hannah's Age: 23

Occupation: I am a bartender.

Relationship Status: I am in a relationship.