I feel like I have more than just 1 small world story to share, but this is the first that comes to mind. I wasn't even there to witness it.
I taught for a year in Latvia, 2007-2008. I had an American colleague named Galen.
I then moved to Kyiv in 2010. I had a Ukrainian colleague named Nastia.
They were in a bookshop in Istanbul looking at English books when they got to chatting. They were both referring to a colleague they knew who liked certain types of books and did all sorts of off-the-wall stuff in his English class and lo and behold, they were talking about me.
Btw, my 6 year old sounds like your daughter. Talking and entertaining the locals on public transport, and she's been doing it since she was little. That kind of thing never went down so well in Ukraine, but here in Vienna where we've lived since March 2022, the locals find her amusing, even when she swings around the pole singing and bumping into people. I just hide my head in shame.
Here's mine: Met a French guy from Paris in a nightclub in Barcelona, the summer I was 18. Had a one-night thing. Came home to Geneva (Switzerland), told my best friend about it. Ended up 98% sure it was the same guy she had a similar encounter with in Oxford the previous summer...
Just happened to stumble upon this post on the Substack app, and have now read this post and a few others of yours. You’re such a good writer! Looking forward to reading more!
Love these stories ❤️ One of my stories is I got chatting to a very handsome man in a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur, he came over to ask me why I couldn't keep my eyes off him! Anyway, he's gay and we chatted for ages while dancing away. A year later back in Dublin, my very good Irish friend is back from holiday in Thailand, where he used to go annually with his Malaysian boyfriend. He's telling me about this hot guy he met, how gorgeous he was and some details about his life. I listen and then say "is his name Rudi?" and my friend's jaw just dropped. Same guy. We had the same taste in men 🤣 Still random though!
I just tonight came to this Substack, caught by the references to Ireland…loving the small world stories. Aisling, it’s nice to meet you and I’ll be sticking around!
I love small world stories. I’m American, and live in Sweden. I have an American friend who did some legal work in Kosovo in the mid 90s. One day in the mid 2010s, my Bosnian au pair was looking at something on my Facebook account and saw a name she recognized. Turns out my American friend in Kosovo, 10 years earlier, was friends with someone who had rented a room in the family home of my Bosnian au pair after the war there.
Oh my god, my Dad lived there for about 6 years from 1957! He moved around a lot as a kid but Ballieboro is the one place that stuck with him forever. I've heard countless stories! He has such a fondness for Ireland and all things Irish which has definitely rubbed off on me too. I hope I get to visit with him soon, as he's getting on in years now. Thanks for your post! ✨️
In December 1984 I arrived at a US Army Post in Sinop, Turkey. A dental assistant was telling me about a girl he met in Samsun, a town 160 km away, that he was really fond of. He was transferred out shortly after that conversation and I never saw him again.
In November 1987 I was again stationed in Sinop. A friend and I traveled to Samsun to do some shopping and shared some cookies and chai with the young ladies working in a department store. Passing my Turkish/English dictionary between us we attempted a chat. To my amazement they told us about their friend who had married an American ‘dentist’.
This story brought me joy for your experience and memories of my own long ago friendships and accidental reunions. Thank you for putting “pen to paper”. Yes, that idiom shows I’m an old man but still enjoying every moment I can.
Lovely stories, and so uncanny, right?
I feel like I have more than just 1 small world story to share, but this is the first that comes to mind. I wasn't even there to witness it.
I taught for a year in Latvia, 2007-2008. I had an American colleague named Galen.
I then moved to Kyiv in 2010. I had a Ukrainian colleague named Nastia.
They were in a bookshop in Istanbul looking at English books when they got to chatting. They were both referring to a colleague they knew who liked certain types of books and did all sorts of off-the-wall stuff in his English class and lo and behold, they were talking about me.
Btw, my 6 year old sounds like your daughter. Talking and entertaining the locals on public transport, and she's been doing it since she was little. That kind of thing never went down so well in Ukraine, but here in Vienna where we've lived since March 2022, the locals find her amusing, even when she swings around the pole singing and bumping into people. I just hide my head in shame.
That is astounding!
It’s such an Irish thing - not just the 2 or 3 degrees of separation, but the willingness to chat and the interest in making connections.
Here's mine: Met a French guy from Paris in a nightclub in Barcelona, the summer I was 18. Had a one-night thing. Came home to Geneva (Switzerland), told my best friend about it. Ended up 98% sure it was the same guy she had a similar encounter with in Oxford the previous summer...
Oh, and I'm also (half) Irish... and my friend is German!
Just happened to stumble upon this post on the Substack app, and have now read this post and a few others of yours. You’re such a good writer! Looking forward to reading more!
Welcome!!
Love the Derrygonnelly sisters' story.
Aisling i thought of you when I looked it up on the map
Love these stories ❤️ One of my stories is I got chatting to a very handsome man in a nightclub in Kuala Lumpur, he came over to ask me why I couldn't keep my eyes off him! Anyway, he's gay and we chatted for ages while dancing away. A year later back in Dublin, my very good Irish friend is back from holiday in Thailand, where he used to go annually with his Malaysian boyfriend. He's telling me about this hot guy he met, how gorgeous he was and some details about his life. I listen and then say "is his name Rudi?" and my friend's jaw just dropped. Same guy. We had the same taste in men 🤣 Still random though!
That's insane!!
I just tonight came to this Substack, caught by the references to Ireland…loving the small world stories. Aisling, it’s nice to meet you and I’ll be sticking around!
I love all of those stories! Thank you for sharing them!
I love small world stories. I’m American, and live in Sweden. I have an American friend who did some legal work in Kosovo in the mid 90s. One day in the mid 2010s, my Bosnian au pair was looking at something on my Facebook account and saw a name she recognized. Turns out my American friend in Kosovo, 10 years earlier, was friends with someone who had rented a room in the family home of my Bosnian au pair after the war there.
I so enjoyed reading this, thank you for sharing!
Oh my god, my Dad lived there for about 6 years from 1957! He moved around a lot as a kid but Ballieboro is the one place that stuck with him forever. I've heard countless stories! He has such a fondness for Ireland and all things Irish which has definitely rubbed off on me too. I hope I get to visit with him soon, as he's getting on in years now. Thanks for your post! ✨️
I have many “It’s a small world stories!”
This was such a lovely read.
Thank you and glad you enjoyed!
Love this Aisling! Great story telling. 👏👏
Thank you Kay!
In December 1984 I arrived at a US Army Post in Sinop, Turkey. A dental assistant was telling me about a girl he met in Samsun, a town 160 km away, that he was really fond of. He was transferred out shortly after that conversation and I never saw him again.
In November 1987 I was again stationed in Sinop. A friend and I traveled to Samsun to do some shopping and shared some cookies and chai with the young ladies working in a department store. Passing my Turkish/English dictionary between us we attempted a chat. To my amazement they told us about their friend who had married an American ‘dentist’.
This story brought me joy for your experience and memories of my own long ago friendships and accidental reunions. Thank you for putting “pen to paper”. Yes, that idiom shows I’m an old man but still enjoying every moment I can.