Global Education Office

Love and Travel: A VCU Love Story

By: Susan Culbreth
VCU Global Education Office Intern
Email: culbrethsg@vcu.edu

Richmond, VA (February 14, 2023) — They say that art imitates life. For former exchange students Pablo Ordás Díaz and Keumbee Lee, their passion for art history and desire to travel abroad brought them together 13 years ago in Richmond. Ordás Díaz was living in Galicia, Spain, and finishing up his master’s degree at Santiago de Compostela University when he first received his acceptance from VCU. He immediately jumped on the opportunity to study abroad and decided to pursue his doctoral degree at VCU in the upcoming fall. Lee was studying art history as an undergraduate at the EWHA Womans University in Seoul, South Korea, and had been wanting to study abroad in Richmond.       

That following fall, their transition from Spain and South Korea to Richmond became a reality and a tremendous culture shock. In an attempt to make the transition easier, they got involved in as much as they could around campus. In the process, the two met each other and found their “home away from home” in special friends they met through school. These friends included VCU alumna Catherine Duggan and her mother Joanna Duggan, who took them under their wing while in Richmond. They helped to bridge that gap and pushed the two to make the most of their experience at VCU. Thirteen years later, Ordás Díaz still speaks of the impact the friends made on them. “They both really became our family abroad,” he said.

Ordás Díaz and Lee furthered their friendship through the group's special bond and they made it a point to not waste even a second of their time in Richmond. As the semester went on, the two became inseparable. They would explore the city together, eat at their favorite spots and even ended up taking a few trips up the East Coast. In the meantime, they were also having a blast in their classes and at international events hosted by the Global Education Office. 

When their love began to blossom, Lee was finishing up her semester at VCU and was ready to move back to Seoul for the spring semester. Ordás Díaz still had one more semester to go at VCU but wasted no time in booking a flight to Seoul for his spring break. From then on, the two would finish their studies in their respective countries, but continued to travel back and forth visiting each other. Despite the long distance, their love stayed strong as they would go on to marry just three years later. 

The couple still raves about their study abroad experience, and keeps in touch with the friends that brought them together. “Aside from the academic advantages, it was a tremendous personal breakthrough for both of us. It gives you the chance to experience things that would be impossible to do in your hometown.” said Ordás Díaz. 

He further expressed how this study abroad opportunity enabled a life changing event for himself and Lee.  “In our case it was even more surprising, because it put together two people who have very similar interests and a passion for art and culture who were raised 14,000 kilometers away. That's quite something,’ he said.

They now live together in Spain and welcomed a sweet baby boy into the family only two days ago. Who would have thought a snap decision to study abroad would result in a lifetime of happiness?