My high school teacher set me up with her brother-in-law – it was love at first sight
A woman has thanked her old high school teacher for putting her in touch with her “soul mate” after she played matchmaker prior to her trips to Costa Rica.
Ellie Gervais, 25, originally from Durango, Colorado, decided she wanted to travel and booked a trip to Costa Rica in September 2021.
Just weeks before she was due to leave, she bumped into her old humanities teacher, Jessica, 40, at the grocery store.
After Ellie shared her travel plans, Jessica advised her to meet her husband Jonah’s brother, Pablo, 26, while visiting the Central American country, where he was working as a surf instructor.
Jessica, who met Jonah, 39, a woodworker, while traveling through Costa Rica 20 years ago, told Ellie, “I bet you get along with Pablo” — and sent her number to him to get in touch with.
Ellie Gervais’, 25, originally from Durango, Colorado, (left) high school teacher played matchmaker and paired her with her brother-in-law Pablo (right) while traveling Costa Rica
Two weeks after arriving in Costa Rica, Ellie received a text from Pablo asking if she wanted to “hang out” in October 2021.
Ellie accepted and the pair spent the day surfing and exploring the beach – they hit it off.
The pair became a couple, have been inseparable ever since and are grateful to Jessica for connecting.
Ellie, an intuitive eating consultant, said, “I ran into my high school teacher at the grocery store and told her I was going to Costa Rica.
“I remembered that she spent some time there and met her husband there.
She said, ‘I have a brother-in-law about your age, I bet you get along’.
“A few weeks after he got there, Pablo texted me and said, ‘If you want to hang out, can I show you around?’
Two weeks after arriving in Costa Rica, Ellie received a text from Pablo in October 2021 asking if she wanted to ‘hang out’
The pair became a couple, have been inseparable ever since and are grateful to Jessica for connecting
“He picked me up on a motorbike. He took off his helmet and I thought he was the most beautiful man I had ever seen in my life. He had a sparkle in his eye.
“We’ve been together ever since.”
Pablo, from Nicoya, Costa Rica, said, “I fell in love with her after the first day.
“I knew she was my soul mate. I am very grateful to Jessica. We can be together for the rest of our lives.’
Ellie added, “It turned out that the place I rented was the town where Jessica had met her husband 15 years ago.”
Jessica posted Ellie’s number in her family group chat – to tell them she knew a student who came over.
Ellie flew to Costa Rica in October 2021, but did not hear from Pablo until two weeks later.
Ellie flew to Costa Rica in October 2021, but did not hear from Pablo until two weeks later
The couple agreed to meet and go surfing together at a nearby beach, eventually spending the entire day together
Pablo said, “Jessica gave me the number, but I forgot to call. A few weeks later I picked up the phone and saw the messages.’
The couple agreed to meet and go surfing together at a nearby beach, eventually spending the entire day together.
Ellie said, “It felt like meeting someone I’ve known for a long time.”
They soon fell madly in love with each other and Pablo asked Ellie to be his girlfriend in November 2021.
Ellie said, “I texted Jessica to let her know then. I said ‘thank you so much for introducing us. We’re totally in love.”
They quickly fell madly in love with each other and Pablo asked Ellie to be his girlfriend in November 2021
“She was so happy and said, ‘I knew you guys would like it.’ I absolutely did not expect this.’
Since meeting Pablo, Ellie has stayed in Costa Rica with his family and learned to speak Spanish.
She said, “It’s a life I could never have imagined for myself. It feels like magic. It feels like a story.’
Pablo and Ellie are now working on a visa for Pablo to return to the US with Ellie so he can meet her family.
She said, “I can’t wait to show him a Colorado Christmas.” We are having lots of fun.’