Student Love Letters
Salient asked you to help resuscitate the dying art of love letters by sending in your lovesick confessions
I'm now a postgraduate student, but when I was an undergraduate student from 2017-2019, I spent a lot of time in the blue zone library studying. Specifically, I spent quite a lot of time at those white desks in the blue zone on Level 3 of the library at Kelburn. After a while, you become familiar with 'the regulars'. And there was one person in particular, we would always smile at each other, and always acknowledge each other with a knowing look of "look at us, at the library again, hiya!" - they seemed really cool, had FIRE fashion, and we actually ended up sitting pretty near each other each time we were in the library because we were weirdly comfortable with each other despite knowing nothing about the other person. Nothing ever happened, but for years we would smile at each other across the desks, or when one of us entered the library, and every so often have a tiny kōrero.
I wish them all the best and sending them a smile from across the desk <3
- Gal who spent too much time at those sterile white desks, smiling at you x
Look sweetheart, I get that perhaps I'm not the most interesting, attractive or coolest guy out there. But for whatever reason, you were the first (and so far only) man to show any actual interest in me. Which is why, as much as I regret turning you down after shoving my face into your shoulder, it fucking hurts that theres been nothing since and that youve almost ignored me. But because I'm too scared to say that I'm still interested, all I can do is listen to Silver Springs and linger on what could have been.
Love, A Lonely, Tearful Idiot
To the frog boy
I'm in the fanclub
you have rolled a nat 20 in being cute and kind and intellectually stimulating
now may we roll for initiative?
You go first, I'm too scared
match made in anth
I had this girl in my anth lectures who was cute and always caught each others eye and now we have been together for almost a year ❤ shoot ur shot for that hearthrob that is in ur class it so worth it !!
Lemme juggle your balls
I've had the fattest crush on a vic rec staff, specifically the one with the 2 tone hair and glasses for over a year now. I saw you playing ball during the league and all I can say is, may I please juggle them balls?
Smiley
I’ve liked you for a long time, since I met you really. The first time we met was at a party where you beat me at beer pong and we had a drunken boxing match after. I knew you were fun from that moment, and every time we’ve hung out since has been even more fun. We’ve been through a lot together, and I think feeling safe to be vulnerable with you is something I admire the most. You’ve always been kind and open, and make me laugh at the stupidest things. From your meticulous hair styling, to the weekly adventures we go on, to your new found obsession with clash of clans, I find myself loving you more every day.
Happy one year and some more, bug 🙂
Mahal kita
A Filipino phrase equivalent to saying “I love you.” However, I believe it’s one of the most beautiful ways to say “I love you”. Mahal can be translated as “expensive” or “precious” when used in an endearing way. Kita doesn’t exactly mean “you”. It’s a somewhat combination of ako (me) and ikaw (you). But that doesn’t exactly equal “we”. When I use kita, you can have no doubts that I’m referring to you and you only.
So to my one and only love, mahal kita Mickey.
These last two letters are transcriptions of physical letters that were mailed between New Zealand and Canada.
Hi Yasmin
Took me long enough eh?
When I sent you that first tinder message asking about your least favourite music genre, I was hoping for an interesting chat about different cultures. I don't think I could have ever imagined what it would lead to. Since then, you have become a very unique friend and to this day I have trouble trying to describe the full extent of our relationship to people.
I’ve included the only original artwork I have made since coming to university, a paua shell necklace and a pounamu drop pendant, which has been blessed, and some kiwi chocolate to sooth the soul.
Meeting you is easily one of the best things that has happened to me in these past 2 years. Whenever anything happens in my life, significant or not, the first person I think of telling is you. If that isn’t love, I don't know what is. Thank you for always being there to listen.
Sending positive vibrations your way,
Matthew
Xo
Dear Matthew,
I’m writing this in hopes that everything gets to your place all in one piece. Selecting a gift that was under 400gms that was still worthy of all the hype was a considerable feat. Not to be cringe but its so surreal to think that something I own will physically reach you.
Thank you for sticking around to listen to my mediocre life updates, and for giving me an automatic sense of superiority whenever I find myself in conversations that have anything to do with kiwis.
Unfortunately my plans for what to send had to change and downsize a lot but regardless I hope you enjoy it all.
Say hello to the flat for me,
Love from Canada
Yasmin xo
(your hot Canadian girlfriend)
Yasmin sent Matthew two paintings she made, in case anyone was agonising over the ambiguity of her letter.