western australia

A once-in-a-lifetime encounter

@JudyEv (381760)

Rockingham, Australia

June 17, 2024 11:25pm CST

MyLotter Jo Ann (@akalinus) spoke about meeting some people and spending quite some time with them. They got on really well despite having never met before and they’ve never met since. They didn’t even exchange names. We had a Georgian man stay with us once. He was from European Georgia and had had his own orchestra there. When he came to Australia, he ended up playing violin in a city orchestra but not one of the really big ones. He and Vince stayed up till 3am talking about this and that. In the morning, Vince wanted to stay in touch but the guy reckoned, nice as it had been, they’d never meet again and to just be happy with the enjoyable time they’d spent together. What I found funny – and I know European customs are different – he shook my hand and kissed Vince on both cheeks!

20 people like this

19 responses

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

18 Jun 24

We had several once in a lifetime encounters and we always enjoyed so much talking to the person we met. While visiting Atlanta (GA, USA), I remember that we met a balalaika musician from Uruguay. We met him in a Spanish restaurant, we sat and talked for a very long time. We stayed in touch through email for a while. In Europe only men in France kiss each other and those who are from ex Soviet Union countries, there they also kiss on their mouth. In other European countries those who do this are considered "gay".

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Anne Marie Guyer

@LeaPea2417 (40020)

• Toccoa, Georgia

18 Jun 24

@LadyDuck my Mom met people from around the world on a cruise years ago. She kept in touch with some through Christmas Cards. I remember her telling me one lady was from Tasmania Australia and another couple was from New Zealand. She enjoyed getting their Christmas updates. I need to ask her if they are still alive.

2 people like this

@LadyDuck (502148)

• Italy

18 Jun 24

@JudyEv - Yes, we conversed in English, he lived in the United States from a couple of years, he had a strong accent but we could understand him very well.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jun 24

We were both a bit surprised by the kiss on the cheeks but it didn't bother us. Such chance encounters are very special moments in time. Did you and the balalaika player converse in English?

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@thislittlepennyearns (68159)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

18 Jun 24

I like those once in a lifetime encounters. There's people that I have met in my life, shared a good laugh or a couple drinks and then they just left as quickly as they showed up. They make good stories like this one.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jun 24

They are quite special times in a way. Like seeing something beautiful that only lasts an instant.

@thislittlepennyearns (68159)

• Defuniak Springs, Florida

19 Jun 24

@JudyEv Yes, for sure.

1 person likes this

@snowy22315 (208746)

• United States

18 Jun 24

Its funny how people come and go in your life sometimes.

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@snowy22315 (208746)

• United States

19 Jun 24

@JudyEv Lucky you met them, good you didn't have any bad experiences.

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@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

It is. I guess all the couch-surfers were chance encounters.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

18 Jun 24

I'm glad you had an enjoyable time with your guest from Georgia.

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Valerie J. Routhieaux

@just4him (323168)

• Green Bay, Wisconsin

19 Jun 24

@JudyEv Sounds like a good choice.

1 person likes this

Zhang jing xuan

@zhangxueying (3362)

• China

18 Jun 24

This looks very wonderful

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jun 24

Thanks. I'm glad you like it.

@Beestring (15373)

• Hong Kong

18 Jun 24

That is wonderful.

2 people like this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jun 24

They had a very interesting evening and found plenty to talk about.

1 person likes this

@BarBaraPrz (51811)

• St. Catharines, Ontario

18 Jun 24

Would you rather he'd kiss you?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

Not particularly but usually, with the Australians, it's the women who get kissed and the men who shake hands. It was just a bit unexpected.

1 person likes this

@allknowing (153544)

• India

19 Jun 24

While on package holidays we meet strangers and once the holiday is over we never meet them again

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

That's very true. Long-distance relationships can be hard to maintain.

1 person likes this

@psanasangma (7910)

• India

19 Jun 24

I believe this is your garden... the flowers !!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

This was the garden on our little farm. We don't have such a lovely garden now. It's nice to have the photos of it.

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@RasmaSandra (97912)

• Daytona Beach, Florida

18 Jun 24

That is too bad he didn't want to stay in touch, It is so easy now through the Internet,

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

This was back in the early 1980s. Our business had the only computer in town.

1 person likes this

@Shiva49 (28366)

• Singapore

18 Jun 24

I had hosted a few who were given my contact by my friends/relatives and stayed with me for a few days. I had never met them before nor later. When I recall such encounters, I feel amused!

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

I guess nearly all those who couch-surfed with us didn't stay in touch but there were a few who did.

1 person likes this

@Dena91 (17029)

• United States

18 Jun 24

It is interesting how many people we interact with just once or twice on our lifetimes.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

Some relationships are never meant to be sustained I guess.

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@Ronrybs (21504)

• London, England

18 Jun 24

Ah, those Europeans! Still it was a nice meeting. I wonder where he is now?

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

What was even more strange was Vince walking down a Kathmandu street with his host holding his hand and me tagging along behind.

@LindaOHio (222222)

• United States

18 Jun 24

It's a shame he didn't want to stay in touch. Have a great day.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jun 24

There wouldn't have been much point. He lived on the other side of the country to us.

1 person likes this

@LindaOHio (222222)

• United States

19 Jun 24

@JudyEv That's a pity. You could have been pen pals! lol

1 person likes this

@rebelann (117199)

• El Paso, Texas

18 Jun 24

That is really unusual. I suppose in a way that might have made some sense but I've always found men kissing other men on the cheeks as somewhat weird.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jun 24

I think it is just an Eastern European custom but it did surprise me at the time.

1 person likes this

@jstory07 (148701)

• Roseburg, Oregon

18 Jun 24

That was nice time that you did spend with him.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jun 24

He was very interesting to chat to. We knew nothing about his home country of Georgia.

@wolfgirl569 (135583)

• Marion, Ohio

18 Jun 24

It can happen. He sounds like an interesting guy

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

He had had an interesting life. I think he fled Georgia during some conflict or other.

1 person likes this

@franxav (14588)

• India

18 Jun 24

Kissed Vince on both cheeks and shook your hand? I guess he was from some East European town.

1 person likes this

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

18 Jun 24

Yes, he was originally from the country of Georgia, a former Soviet republic.

@dya80dya (36805)

•

18 Jun 24

I think these different customs are interesting.

@JudyEv (381760)

• Rockingham, Australia

19 Jun 24

I think they are interesting too. No wonder sometimes people upset others but not being aware of certain customs.