It's a small world...
Jul 9th, 2007, 06:42 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2003
Posts: 2,707
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It's a small world...
Staying at a mas near Buisson, at breakfast one morning, we sat opposite a family of fellow Americans (the first we'd encountered after 10 days in Provence).
They now live in Washington D.C. but he grew up in our hometown on Long Island, a classmate of my brother. His mom still lives in his childhood home less than a quarter mile from ours.
Has anyone else had a similar Can you believe that!!! experience?
They now live in Washington D.C. but he grew up in our hometown on Long Island, a classmate of my brother. His mom still lives in his childhood home less than a quarter mile from ours.
Has anyone else had a similar Can you believe that!!! experience?
Jul 9th, 2007, 06:50 AM
#3
Some years ago my brother was hitch hiking in the UK, and was picked up by a driver. As they spoke it became apparent that this same driver had given him a lift about 18 months previously, 6000 miles away in Southern Africa.
Jul 9th, 2007, 07:16 AM
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 197
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I spent my childhood in Wantagh - great memories of Jones Beach!
In 1993, my best friend was backpacking across Europe with another friend. They were waiting for the ferry in Brindisi, Italy to take them to Greece. My best friend's cousin just happened to walk past. She called out 'David' and he turned around. Neither of them knew the other was backpacking and they ended up travelling around Greece together!! I flew to Athens to meet my friend and ended spending a great week with her and her cousin, an amazing chap who had just quit the RCMP. Small world!
In 1993, my best friend was backpacking across Europe with another friend. They were waiting for the ferry in Brindisi, Italy to take them to Greece. My best friend's cousin just happened to walk past. She called out 'David' and he turned around. Neither of them knew the other was backpacking and they ended up travelling around Greece together!! I flew to Athens to meet my friend and ended spending a great week with her and her cousin, an amazing chap who had just quit the RCMP. Small world!
Jul 9th, 2007, 07:18 AM
#6
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 5,056
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
When my parents were on holiday they bumped into a couple the same sort of age from where they were born. After some discussions they found out that both my mum and this lady had been asked out by the same boy but had turned the poor chap down as he was an apprentice undertaker and they found it too creepy!
Jul 9th, 2007, 08:14 AM
#8
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 461
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My husband (though not yet at the time) and I backpacked around Europe together in the late 80's. We were in Instanbul when we 'bumped into' 4 friends from university who we didn't even know were travelling. My husband and I were in different programs, in different years, and in the group of 4 people we bumped into were 2 who he knew and 2 who I knew, though we had no idea they knew each other!
Jul 9th, 2007, 08:26 AM
#9
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were in Florence last year and my husband was wearing a wet on a night walking tour which ended at a wine bar.
It ended up being just us and another family with 3 kids.
My husband was wearing a shirt with the logo of his company. The other man on the tour noticed, mentioned that he was a purchssing agent that dealt with that company on a frequent basis.
Upon hearing the name of the company my husband mentioned that he was in sales and that he was on a conference call with the man's company every Monday morning....
They exchanged names and discovered that they knew each other. They had both been on the same con call every Monday for about a year but had never met face to face.
Second time:
When I was in my 20's I was in Puerto Rico with my girlfriends. I met a cute boy at the bus stop.
We got to talking and discovered that he was the son of my godmother. We used to play together when we were 5 or 6 years old and hadn't seen each other since.
It ended up being just us and another family with 3 kids.
My husband was wearing a shirt with the logo of his company. The other man on the tour noticed, mentioned that he was a purchssing agent that dealt with that company on a frequent basis.
Upon hearing the name of the company my husband mentioned that he was in sales and that he was on a conference call with the man's company every Monday morning....
They exchanged names and discovered that they knew each other. They had both been on the same con call every Monday for about a year but had never met face to face.
Second time:
When I was in my 20's I was in Puerto Rico with my girlfriends. I met a cute boy at the bus stop.
We got to talking and discovered that he was the son of my godmother. We used to play together when we were 5 or 6 years old and hadn't seen each other since.
Jul 9th, 2007, 08:31 AM
#10
Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 430
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Okay, I have family in Denmark and we also have close friends there too, but they do not know each other.
One holiday (ours) in Denmark I was visiting my cousin and she took out her holiday pictures to show us. In one picture of her and family posing in the foreground, I saw our friends in the background walking by!
One holiday (ours) in Denmark I was visiting my cousin and she took out her holiday pictures to show us. In one picture of her and family posing in the foreground, I saw our friends in the background walking by!
Jul 9th, 2007, 08:34 AM
#11
We were in the Thieves'Market in Mexico City nd ran into a high school classmate from Jerry's hometown. He was living there married to a Mexican woman. We ended up spending two nights at his friend's huge house.
Jul 9th, 2007, 08:35 AM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Opps typo:
We were in Florence last year on a night walking tour which ended at a wine bar.
It ended up being just us and another family with 3 kids.
My husband was wearing a shirt with the logo of his company. The other man on the tour noticed, mentioned that he was a purchssing agent that dealt with that company on a frequent basis.
Upon hearing the name of the company my husband mentioned that he was in sales and that he was on a conference call with the man's company every Monday morning....
They exchanged names and discovered that they knew each other. They had both been on the same con call every Monday for about a year but had never met face to face.
Second time:
When I was in my 20's I was in Puerto Rico with my girlfriends. I met a cute boy at the bus stop.
We got to talking and discovered that he was the son of my godmother. We used to play together when we were 5 or 6 years old and hadn't seen each other since.
Another weird thing closer to home:
My mother had worked at a variety store for 25 years. The owner decided to sell and the new owner immediately fired my mother (although I felt bad for her, believe me she deserved it - zero customer service skills).
Meanwhile 60 miles away... I used to stop at a convenience store and buy diet soda on my way to work. I became good friends with the manager so he started to sell me cases at his cost. This went on for a year.
One day I stopped by and he informed me that this would be the last week that he could offer me the deal as he had bought his own store in Malden.
I told him that I grew up in Malden and asked the name of the store - you guessed it, he was the one who had fired my mother!!
We were in Florence last year on a night walking tour which ended at a wine bar.
It ended up being just us and another family with 3 kids.
My husband was wearing a shirt with the logo of his company. The other man on the tour noticed, mentioned that he was a purchssing agent that dealt with that company on a frequent basis.
Upon hearing the name of the company my husband mentioned that he was in sales and that he was on a conference call with the man's company every Monday morning....
They exchanged names and discovered that they knew each other. They had both been on the same con call every Monday for about a year but had never met face to face.
Second time:
When I was in my 20's I was in Puerto Rico with my girlfriends. I met a cute boy at the bus stop.
We got to talking and discovered that he was the son of my godmother. We used to play together when we were 5 or 6 years old and hadn't seen each other since.
Another weird thing closer to home:
My mother had worked at a variety store for 25 years. The owner decided to sell and the new owner immediately fired my mother (although I felt bad for her, believe me she deserved it - zero customer service skills).
Meanwhile 60 miles away... I used to stop at a convenience store and buy diet soda on my way to work. I became good friends with the manager so he started to sell me cases at his cost. This went on for a year.
One day I stopped by and he informed me that this would be the last week that he could offer me the deal as he had bought his own store in Malden.
I told him that I grew up in Malden and asked the name of the store - you guessed it, he was the one who had fired my mother!!
Jul 9th, 2007, 09:07 AM
#14
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 523
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just remembered another...
I was in Salzburg alone and after a long day decided to stop at an Irish pub for a beer.
There was a group of eight men speaking in English at the table next to me aged 40 - 70.
I was bored (and excited to hear someone speaking English) so I started a conversation with them. I didn't know any of them but it turns out that they all lived in the same town that I did back near Boston.
The next day they took me skiing with them in Germany. I had the best time ever!! Five years later I still keep in touch with a few of them.
I was in Salzburg alone and after a long day decided to stop at an Irish pub for a beer.
There was a group of eight men speaking in English at the table next to me aged 40 - 70.
I was bored (and excited to hear someone speaking English) so I started a conversation with them. I didn't know any of them but it turns out that they all lived in the same town that I did back near Boston.
The next day they took me skiing with them in Germany. I had the best time ever!! Five years later I still keep in touch with a few of them.
Jul 9th, 2007, 09:28 AM
#15
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 1,270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
We were staying at a small chateau (maybe 6 rooms?) in Burgundy several years back, and had dinner there the first night. There were three other couples from the US, and this was their final night.
We are from the San Fernando Valley in LA. One couple lived about 10 miles from us. That was wierd.
Even wierder was that one other couple was in the Navy, from San Diego. Oh, I said, my brother is in the naval reserves, went to Annapolis. So do his sons. Really, chimes in the OTHER couple - I teach at Annapolis. What's his name? I told him....the teacher had given my nephew an award at graduation four days prior.
Whoa!
We are from the San Fernando Valley in LA. One couple lived about 10 miles from us. That was wierd.
Even wierder was that one other couple was in the Navy, from San Diego. Oh, I said, my brother is in the naval reserves, went to Annapolis. So do his sons. Really, chimes in the OTHER couple - I teach at Annapolis. What's his name? I told him....the teacher had given my nephew an award at graduation four days prior.
Whoa!
Jul 9th, 2007, 09:28 AM
#16
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 1,939
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My sister and I had just boarded our plane headed back to Texas from CDG. I went to the bathroom before we departed the gate. Someone called my name. It was my sister's husband. He was returning from Africa and connected in Paris, We had no idea he was on that plane nor when he was even coming back home. We were so happy that she had told him about our trip, because she has been known to travel with me on several occasions and never mention it to him as he is away on jobs often.
Another trip-my son and I were in Nice and a girl called his name. It was a friend with whom he had graduated high school.
A different trip-my son and I were in London near the palace when he saw a friend from college.
In Maui several years ago, I ran into my doctor at a restaurant.
Another trip-my son and I were in Nice and a girl called his name. It was a friend with whom he had graduated high school.
A different trip-my son and I were in London near the palace when he saw a friend from college.
In Maui several years ago, I ran into my doctor at a restaurant.
Jul 9th, 2007, 09:49 AM
#18
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,408
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
About 10 years ago my husband and I spent a few months in Thailand. On our very last day there we were sitting in an outdoor cafe and I heard a very loud, obnoxious American voice talking. Turned around and it was one of our college roomates who we had not seen in many, many years!
Jul 9th, 2007, 09:49 AM
#19
Join Date: Dec 2005
Posts: 351
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have such confidence in this happening that when I took my daughter to Europe last summer as a Bat Mitzvah gift, I promised her that we would run into someone we knew- just that we wouldn't know who it was till it happened. At the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice,we ran into the president of our congregation, who then was in attendance at her Bat Mitzvah a month later, to offer words of blessing! He didn't have to ask how she spent her summer.
Jul 9th, 2007, 10:01 AM
#20
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 74,699
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not too long ago I attended a conference where one of the speakers had a familiar name.
He also had a familiar face.
We went to school together 50 years ago,
A friend of my wife's has been a widow for 15 years. She recently moved to another small town.
That same week she was introduced to another newcomer to that small town.
He was a boy she had dated in high school before she met her husband-to-be.
They are now "going steady".
He also had a familiar face.
We went to school together 50 years ago,
A friend of my wife's has been a widow for 15 years. She recently moved to another small town.
That same week she was introduced to another newcomer to that small town.
He was a boy she had dated in high school before she met her husband-to-be.
They are now "going steady".
