American Couple’s Unconventional Date: A 21-Day Budget Trip for $7,000
American columnist Clara Benson and Jeff Wilson, a biology professor at the University of Houston-Tillotson, met on the dating site OkCupid. Eight weeks later, the couple, who had connected online, decided to break away from conventional dating activities like coffee dates or movie nights and instead embarked on a 21-day cross-European journey by plane.
Reflecting on their spontaneous June trip, blonde Benson said, “As Mark Twain said, if you want to know whether you’ll like someone, take a trip with them.” She spotted Wilson’s profile on OkCupid just seven days after signing up, and was instantly smitten by his appearance paired with a mariachi-style bow tie. Meanwhile, Wilson proposed a “completely unplanned” trip by his third email—even before knowing Benson’s full name or seeing her real photos—suggesting no itinerary, no pre-booked hotels, and no luggage whatsoever.
Though Benson describes herself as a traditional woman who loves cleanliness and order, she was won over by Wilson’s adventurous spirit. So she bravely took on the challenge. Throughout the trip, the two wore the same set of clothes, carrying only their passports, credit cards, phones, maps, and toothbrushes. In the end, their round-trip flights from Houston cost just $1,200 (approximately 7,302 RMB).