Running into another American

Living in a little town in West Yorkshire, I don't ever run into other Americans.

Yesterday I was leaving a pub in Market Rasen, Lincolnshire. When I pushed open the door, someone was pulling it open at the same time. I nearly fell into her. I said, "Oh, I'm so sorry!"  She said, "No problem, hon."    I said (the obvious), "Oh, you're American!"  She said, "Yes, from Florida."  I told her I was from PA. We chatted for a few minutes. Turned out she attended classes at the same university at which I did my undergraduate.  Small world and all that, etc.

Meanwhile, my DH and two friends were waiting patiently. When I joined them, DH said, "It was like you were talking a completely different language." I said, "Now you know how *I* feel all the time!" 

That's really cool . I'm only 20 miles from Market Rasen, although I'm not American so that doesn't really help anything .

It's so strange when coincidences like that happen though - when I lived in New Mexico, it turned out that one of my Australian friends there had actually been in my town in England just before we both moved to the US... he'd even visited my Boots store while I was working there, but then we met 5,000 miles away in Albuquerque a couple of weeks later!

Maybe we should have a "Small World" thread.  I was getting my hair cut at the hairdresser just up the street.  The young lady cutting my hair remarked on my accent.  She was from South Africa and said that her best friend had married an American that her friend had met while working on ship and had then moved to Minnesota.  That sounded very familiar to me and wheels started spinning in my head. I asked if her friend's husband was named "Mick."  Her jaw dropped to the floor and she asked how I knew that.  "Because your friend married one of my best friend's cousins."

It is sometimes a very, very small world!   

That's really cool . I'm only 20 miles from Market Rasen, although I'm not American so that doesn't really help anything .

It's so strange when coincidences like that happen though - when I lived in New Mexico, it turned out that one of my Australian friends there had actually been in my town in England just before we both moved to the US... he'd even visited my Boots store while I was working there, but then we met 5,000 miles away in Albuquerque a couple of weeks later!

Well remember Boots is now Walgreens.
Thats stretching it a little. Walgreens is buying into Boots. 45% I think, subject to approval.

Well remember Boots is now Walgreens.
Thats stretching it a little. Walgreens is buying into Boots. 55% I think, subject to approval.

Oh no! 

Well remember Boots is now Walgreens.
Thats stretching it a little. Walgreens is buying into Boots. 55% I think, subject to approval.

It's 45% with an option to buy the remainder in 2015

Living in a little town in West Yorkshire, I don't ever run into other Americans.

But there are loads of us in and around Leeds!  How far are you from Leeds?

Oh, I wasn't complaining. Just saying I just don't see many as one would, say, in London or another big city.  I kinda like being the only American.

I think I am about 45 minutes away by train.

When I was in Istanbul a few weeks ago, I met a couple at breakfast who lived on the same street I lived on years ago in Chino Hills, CA. 

Oh, I wasn't complaining. Just saying I just don't see many as one would, say, in London or another big city.  I kinda like being the only American.

I think I am about 45 minutes away by train.

Oh, that's a fair distance.  I was just surprised that you hadn't run into any other Americans except the one.

You'll have to come to Leeds at some point and meet up with us all! 

These "small world" stories are really cool!

Andee - yes I must!  We have been there 2 or 3 times I think, but it was always for some official business or other.  My step-son goes to uni there as well.  I have to come there purely for pleasure next time.

Aren't you from the Philly area or am I thinking of someone else?

Well remember Boots is now Walgreens.
Thats stretching it a little. Walgreens is buying into Boots. 55% I think, subject to approval.

Noooooooooooooo!!! Then my idea of a Boots advert with the song "Get down to Boots" (the U2 one? "Get on your boots!") will never happen. :'(

But there are loads of us in and around Leeds!  How far are you from Leeds?

Definitely!  I see at least one or two each week! 

These "small world" stories are really cool!


Aren't you from the Philly area or am I thinking of someone else?

Yes, I am--born and bred!  Grew up in the Greater NorthEast, lived everywhere from the Art Museum Area, to Rittenhouse Square (not as posh as it sounds!), to South Street, to deep dark South Philly.  (Doncha miss it sometimes?  )

Would love to meet up sometime!

I know three Americans in this area - one is a friend, one an acquaintance and I don't really like the third! But I often hear American accents around here, though I think they're usually holiday-makers.