OUR STORY
In May 2021, JP and Elise met in the kitchen of "Camp Doug," aka the Robinson family home. JP was staying a month with Erika & Doug on an extended American work-trip, and Elise was home for the weekend. For JP, Elise was an added bonus to the attractions in Clements – within 5 seconds she surpassed the excitement of e-bikes, sunsets, and the pool combined. Meanwhile, Elise was curious to meet this "really smiley" guest.
Wanting to tour Silicon Valley as well, JP came and stayed at Elise's apartment for a week, although it was just friends at this point. She helped edit JP's application for his MBA program. He helped her pan-fry salmon for dinner. They biked around campus and he joined for drinks with her coworkers. Their friendship was off to a good start.​
JP headed back to Switzerland, with a blessing from Elise's Oma "I wish you a happy life and beautiful wife" upon departure.
A few short weeks later, the Robinson kids met JP's parents in Switzerland on a sibling trip. Then it was back to separate continents for some time.​
At this point, they had never considered a relationship possible due to distance, but they sent monthly updates as friends. Elise was the first person JP wrote when he was accepted into the MBA program, due to her help with the application. After a couple of months, texting became insufficient for updates, so they decided to call. A handful of calls later, Elise was consistently hanging up the phone thinking "Gosh, I should really move to Switzerland and date JP."​
Slightly non-committal, she decided to visit Switzerland for a month instead. There was an awkward day of not-quite-flirting as she and her mom visited JP's family for lunch and toured the Jura region. Erika headed back to CA, but Elise stayed in Switzerland just a little bit longer, which gave her and JP an opportunity to hang out -- no family in tow. They had a breathtaking hike near the Lauenensee and brainstormed that Elise would move to Switzerland and search for a job; then they could consider dating.
Hike near the Lauenensee
There was one caveat: Elise had already applied for a job in California and upon her return home, she got the offer. Talking to JP a week earlier, she had been convinced she would turn down the offer no matter what. No longer with him in the ambiance of the Alps, the opportunity and paycheck started to look very attractive.
It was a week of intense decision-making with multiple phone calls. JP was incredibly supportive and she increasingly admired his level-headedness and optimism that everything would work out as it should. She ultimately decided to take the job in SF and let JP know that she would understand if he never talked to her again, since she was obviously choosing her career over a relationship. But he responded that he thought she was doing what was best and a long-distance relationship could be worth trying.
And so they started dating. It was a crazy year in which they managed to see each other almost every six weeks through creative business trips and careful vacation optimization -- an adventure fit for two high-energy people.​
 November 2022And so the long-distance adventure begins with a hike at Kandersteg! |  December 2022Christmas with the Wisards |  December 2022Melchsee-Frutt with the Bucher relatives |
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 December 2022Melchsee-Frutt with the Bucher relatives |  December 2022Lausanne with Nathalie & Chiara |  December 2022Lunch in Lenzburg with Katja, Gregor & Nicole |
 February 2023From the Pacific... (JP on a business trip) |  April 2023To the Atlantic! (JP & Elise on well-timed business trips) |  May 2023BBQ with JP's family on Mt. Raimeux |
 July 2023Cousin Backpacking Trip in the Sierras |  July 2023Cousin Backpacking Trip in the Sierras |  July 2023Visiting Lahaina five days before it burned |
 July 2023Visiting the Mateos in San Diego |  September 2023Celebrating JP's birthday with friends at the Grandval Ski Chalet |  September 2023Celebrating JP's birthday with family at the Grandval Ski Chalet |
 Oct. 2023Combining Disneyland with a business trip |  Nov. 2023Thanksgiving with the Bucher family |  Nov. 2023Riding E-Bikes in Clements |
 Nov. 2023Picking out a Christmas Tree with the Robinsons |  Jan. 2024Hiking in Pinnacles with Adam |  March 2024Mt. Raimeux as a winter wonderland |
 March 2024Adelboden Ski Day |
As is true for couples split between continents, sacrifices would eventually have to be made. The relationship was going well, the goodbyes were becoming harder, and Elise wasn't loving Bay Area traffic. In February of 2024, she flew with her bike, skis, and trombone to join JP in his hometown valley of Grandval. Leaving behind her family and friends in California was not easy, but JP's family, friends, and her extended Swiss family immediately welcomed her in. They both feel blessed to have incredible family and friends in their lives, and they are now looking forward to celebrating their future with exactly those people!
 June 2024Summer on the patio with the Wisards |  July 2024Fondue with Natasha, Kevin, Kaden and Ben in Leysin |  July 2024Hannah & Peter's wedding with the whole family in Washington |
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 August 2024The Robinsons and Wisards roadtrip to the Grand Tetons & Yellowstone |  August 2024Ultraks Relay Race in Zermatt with friends |  September 2024Visiting Tante Rosa, Klaus, Damara und Sebastian in Patsch, Austria |
 October 2024Auf d'Wiesn (Oktoberfest) |  November 2024Brienzer Rothorn Still hiking :) |