Our Facebook romance

Imagine all the ups and downs of your relationship being watched by 5000 strangers. Welcome to the world of Megan Quinn and Jason van Genderen, the Aussie couple who live on opposite sides of the world and are conducting a very public romance on Facebook.

When they fell in love nine months ago, Megan, 26, was about to realise a lifetime ambition to move to Ethiopia to volunteer as an aid worker for a year. Instead of putting love on hold, the couple decided to continue their affair using the latest technology.

‘We met at a work function, shared a champagne-fuelled kiss and things skyrocketed!’ Megan laughs. ‘Jason makes up for every crap date I’ve ever been on. He doesn’t just tell me he loves me, he shows me. Every woman understands this very scientific difference!’

Despite falling madly in love, Jason, 38, knew from the first date that Megan was heading overseas.
‘Her plans didn’t get in the way of us getting to know each other and falling in love. It became part of who we were as a couple. She had her heart set on going and I wasn’t going to stop her,’ he says.

And Megan wasn’t about to change her life for a man she’d just met, believing if they were ‘meant to be’ their love would survive. So rather than burn thousands of dollars on phone calls, Jason, an award-winning film-maker who won New York Tropfest in 2008, suggested they keep their love afloat by posting video clips of themselves using Facebook.

Me&Megan now has thousands of fans who eagerly await the latest instalments of the couple’s video blogs – their airport farewell was a real tear-jerker! Saying goodbye was the hardest thing Megan’s ever had to do.
‘I was a mess on that flight. I threw up for the first eight hours, and would cry sporadically and become hysterical!’ Megan says.

But once she arrived in Addis Ababa, everything fell into place. Megan is a project manager for Network of Associations of HIV Positives in Oromia, helping people living with the disease realise their full potential.
‘Leaving Jason was incredibly tough, but I know he understands this is a dream of mine and he’ll be there for me when I get back.’

Some friends are sceptical, but Jason, a divorced father of two, insists the couple can be together despite living 12,653km apart.
‘Social media is an amazing platform to grow and spread a message in so many ways, especially with love,’ he says.

While both admit even the best technology can’t replace just being in each other’s arms, they say it’s the next best thing.
‘There have been tough times,’ Megan says. ‘But I film video diaries every night, which is a great way of communicating. His days are busy editing, so he’s always looking at me. I can’t wait until we’re together again.’

By: Libby-Jane Charleston
Photos: Hailey Bartholomew

• To watch Megan and Jason’s video romance, log in to Facebook and search for Me&Megan.