FAQ: Bliss & Dan
Name: Bliss Immanuel Khaw
Birthdate: March 1, 1982
Hometown: Shelton, WA
Chinese zodiac sign: Dog
Name: Daniel Christopher Washburn
Birthdate October 31, 1973
Hometown: Bloomsburg, PA
Chinese zodiac sign: Ox
How did you meet? Dan and Bliss happened to be meeting the same person for dinner in Shanghai. Dan was was meeting him because he was the founder of a popular Shanghai website and had helped answer some of Dan's questions about the city before he made the move. Bliss was meeting him because he was the uncle of a good friend back in Georgia.
When was this? September 2002, a week after Dan and Bliss both arrived in Shanghai. They both arrived on the same day.
What was the distance between Dan and Bliss' respective homes prior to moving to China? About 35 miles. Dan was a sportswriter for the Gainesville Times in Gainesville, GA, about a 45-minute drive to Athens, where Bliss was at the time attending the University of Georgia. Dan often attended University of Georgia Bulldogs football games and live music shows in Athens — which explains why he never met Bliss there.
When did you start dating? A few weeks after meeting.
Why did Dan go to China? He got bored of being a sports writer in Georgia and wanted a change.
Why did Bliss go to China? She wanted to see whether any of her research on China's economy made any sense if she was actually in China.
When did you get engaged? New Year's Eve 2005.
How did you get engaged? Dan decided that he wanted to propose in his hometown of Bloomsburg, PA, and started planning a New Year's Eve proposal in May. After dinner at the Inn at Turkey Hill, a hostess nearly blew the surprise. Then Dan surprised Bliss by leading her not to the car, but to a suite at the Inn and asking her there whether she would marry him.
Was Bliss surprised? Yes. Dan reports feeling a long pause before Bliss said "yes". Bliss doesn't remember taking a long time answering, but thinks being caught off guard might have something to do with that.
Were Bliss' parents surprised? Dan went on a "guys outing" with Bliss' dad, Bernie, to the Okeefenokee Swamp in the first half of the holidays in Georgia. After their alligator-less boat ride through this alligator-infested area, Dan asked for Bernie's blessing before Bliss and Dan headed up to Pennsylvania for the other half of the holidays and Dan's proposal. Bernie said yes, and now the word "Okeefenokee" will forever be a part of the Bliss and Dan story, as it should be.
Was Dan nervous? Dan wasn't nervous about Bliss' answer, but was worried about everything going as he had planned. Earlier in the day, a shopping trip an hour outside of town threatened to ruin all of those big plans as a mild snow storm hit with the keys locked in the car. While waiting for someone to show up and get the car unlocked on the afernoon of New Year's Eve, the snow started falling pretty heavily. But they did make it back in time, and the snow made for a pretty beautiful New Year's Eve.
What about the ring? The ring Dan gave to Bliss is set with an antique, mine-cut diamond from his grandmother. The diamond is believed to be from South Africa. We are not sure if it is a "conflict diamond."