The further you travel, the closer it is to home

I must have been one of the first people they had spoken to since arriving in Europe. Travelling all the way from Lubbock TX, they were delighted when I told them I once lived and worked in their city. For them it was a huge coincidence. For me, in a job that involves speaking to many international travelers, it was a matter of time.

Not to take anything away from the chat, it was great to meet them and brought back some awesome memories. I remember being in their shoes in their home city. It was just as much of a surprise when a guy at the bar recognised my accent and told me how he went to school in my hometown. It was very funny to hear how we brought back the northern English accent that had clearly faded over time.
It was also a surprise when I bumped into a friend in New York City, checking into a hotel as I was checking out. Being so far from home, it took a while to sink in. We crossed paths like we did at college and the local store. A couple thousand miles did not change anything. 

The more I travel, the more I have these experiences. 

I hope I’m not the only one!