Carrie visited the Grand Canyon in the USA in the summer of 2001. She was 19 years old and she was passing through Arizona with her family on her way back from Arizona State University. Meanwhile, the family stopped by the national park.
On the cliffs, 19-year-old Danish Kris Sorensen, who had just graduated from an international boarding school in New Mexico, sat watching the view. The two met there, chatted for about 5 hours. Photographs of the canyon were also taken at that time.
At night, their families wanted to leave from there. It was 2001, neither of them had cell phones. But they both had e-mail addresses. They gave each other their e-mail addresses before going in different directions. Kris was still on the road with her family when she got Carrie’s first email from an internet cafe in San Francisco.
THEY BECOME LETTER FRIENDS
Kris and Carrie started sending mutual messages to each other. Their correspondence began in the summer and continued until autumn. The correspondence continued, albeit intermittently.
Carrie, “Because we had this magical beginning, we felt the ability and security to share with each other what we couldn’t do. And we weren’t sharing it with other people,” says Kris. “I knew Carrie’s inner secrets, so she knew mine. I had no idea what food she liked though” says.
UNIVERSITY PERIOD AND RELATIONS
Months passed. Both were in college. Carrie still vividly remembers the disappointment she felt when she found out that Kris was dating someone in Scotland, “I know we have a huge bond. Then one day, all of a sudden, I see the other girl’s name all over her social media.”
Carrie’s friend sent Kris a reactionary email on her behalf. More time passed, and this time Carrie began to see someone else. But the two remained pen pals.
YEAR 2008
Carrie and Kris’ email friendship continued when the two graduated from college and started working. In 2008, within six months, both of their long-term relationships ended. In the midst of their breakup, Carrie and Kris started emailing each other more often. Then the video calls started. As their correspondence increased, it was clear that the deep bond they had always felt was still strong.
KRIS WAS GOING TO THE USA, ON THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE FIRST MEET…
And Kris decided to visit Carrie in the USA. They met at the airport and returned to the Grand Canyon together on the anniversary of the day they first met. Seven years later they sat together in the same place at Hopi Point. During Kris’ visit to the United States, the two discussed how a long-distance relationship could work. That fall, Carrie also went to England to visit Kris.
AND THEY MARRIED…
They were investigating visa and immigration laws when they found out that Carrie was pregnant. Carrie says it was “definitely not in the plan,” but they were both very happy. They stepped up their plans and got married in 2009, just before their son was born, in Carrie’s mother’s backyard.
The couple had to live in different countries for their son’s first 10 months while waiting for Kris’ green card. It was not an easy breakup, but in late 2009 Kris moved to the USA.
YEAR 2022
Today, Carrie and Kris live in California with their three sons. Carrie turns her love of fantasy into a career as a fantasy writer under the name CK Sorens, while Kris works at Google.