I left a great country with a one way ticket to New York. Big dreams, big ambitions and determination to succeed. Along the way, I was hoping to have some fun, but ultimately find a girl who could be different. One that made time stand still...

When I first moved to New York, I was taken aback by two things. Firstly, how confident New York women are, direct to say the least, and secondly, that for some reason they loved my accent. They all viewed it as this very masculine, exotic voice. Me? I knew nothing different. But I wasn’t going to complain.

I quickly got a job and found an apartment in the East Village. Soon all my discretionary income was going towards dates. Drinks, dinners, ubers you name it, I was paying for it. But I loved every minute of it. I loved meeting new women who were interesting, beautiful and daring.

I began having 'sleepovers' to the extent that it became immensely mechanical. I felt that there was zero emotion. It was all about the hook up. The release. The satisfaction. Then I realised that while I had set out to have 'some fun', I was now a man who was after the opposite. I was after a relationship.

The first girl I met who I was hoping, thinking about a relationship with was someone I met at a Halloween party, in a castle in Yonkers. We met on the fly and had a kiss. Wow was I taken aback. We exchanged numbers and went on several dates. I loved every minute of it. Here was an independent, fun, exciting, beautiful woman. Then, after we slept together, zero, nothing. I was ghosted by a lady who finally sent a text saying thanks but no thanks.

I was upset and down. New York, I discovered, was tough. Not to be taken lightly.

But my motivation to meet a girl I could commit to continued until one day I kissed a girl I never dreamed of. A girl who I was great friends with. Sparks flew and yes,

time stood still....