Small World....

**Jaxi** · 12th October 2007, 08:26

Crazy thing happened today.....

I organised a "Customer Service" training course at work. It's been in the pipeline for a month or so now. I talked to the trainer last week, pinpoint problem areas with the candidates that I am keen for her to focus on etc etc...

Today, she turns up. She is training two Kiwi's, a Namibian, and an Irish / African - we are in London remember.

Talking about speaking on the phone and accents.... she says she has been in London for 30 years but if she was speaking in her Glaswegan accent no one would understand her... I piped up and said "I would"

Later over lunch, she asks us all how come we are all here, where are we from etc... The other kiwi talks about his parents being from England and emigrating to NZ in the 70's, hence his UK passport.... She then asks me why I'd understand the accent and I tell her I was born there and the family emigrated to NZ in 1975 when I was 7. She asked me why.... I mentioned that my dad was offered a position somewhere in NZ, she tells me she has a relation there, she tells me the relations name... it is my Dad.

Oh my god.... I think how is this woman related to MY DAD??? Turns out she is the sister of my Mum's brother's wife, they live in Canada!!! She'd heard of me for years, I've heard of her for years.

It really is such a small world.... Having grown up in NZ without rellies, it was a really weird feeling.....

Having said this though... I reckon talk to an kiwi in London long enough and you will always find someone in common...

**Warr** · 12th October 2007, 08:37

Originally Posted by Jaxi

Crazy thing happened today.....

Having grown up in NZ without rellies, it was a really weird feeling.....

Hey that is really special for you. Thanks for sharing. I have friends in NZ that immigrated here and dont have rellies, so know just where you are coming from

**Finn** · 12th October 2007, 08:37

Phew, lucky you didn't shag her eh?

**klingon** · 12th October 2007, 08:47

That's a great story, Jaxi.

A few years ago my parents were managing a backpackers hostel in the far north of NZ and my brother was living in Alberta, Canada. My parents had a guest from Canada and Mum said "oh my son lives in Canada, what part are you from?" (At this point everyone else cringes because it's such a cliche.)

Anyway, he said he was from Alberta and named the small rural town. Same town as my brother. Turns out my brother's wife it this guy's boss. Crazy.

**Chickadee** · 12th October 2007, 08:57

Some things are a bit nanu nanu aye! Nice that you guys re-established contact.

I'm adopted, my first serious boyfriend turned out to be a relative to my adoptive parents (If I'd been related by blood that would have been a bit yuk!). His Mum came out to the car just after we started dating and said 'my Mum used to be a 'Family name'. Oh no - probably not related, the relatives are from the west coast - and yes that's where her family also came from OH SHIT. My boyfriend of the time was my Dad's third cousin. Get out them thar banjo's. Luckily that relationship ended!

The world is a smaller place than you think.

When I was in London I bumped intoo people I'd not seen for years, including a lass I'd been at school with Age 13.

Chisanga I kept thinking was familiar, turned out he was one of my big brothers friends at school at age 16 - I never forget a face/voice.

**Marmoot** · 12th October 2007, 09:29

Two men were sitting next to each other at a bar. After a while, one guy looks at the other and says, "I can't help but think, from listening to you, that you're from Ireland." The other guy responds proudly, "Yes, that I am!" The first guy says, "So am I! And where about from Ireland might you be?" The other guy answers, "I'm from Dublin, I am." The first guy responds, "Sure and begora, and so am I! And what street did you live on in Dublin?" The other guy says, "A lovely little area it was, I lived on McCleary Street in the old central part of town." The first guy says, "Faith & it's a small world, so did I! And to what school would you have been going?" The first guy gets really excited, and says, "And so did I. Tell me, what year did you graduate?" The other guy answers, "Well, now, I graduated in 1964." The first guy exclaims, "The Good Lord must be smiling down upon us! I can hardly believe our good luck at winding up in the same bar tonight. Can you believe it, I graduated from St. Mary's in 1964 my own self." About this time, another guy walks into the bar, sits down, and orders a beer. The bartender walks over shaking his head & mutters..."It's going to be a long night tonight, the Murphy twins are drunk again."