;)
At first glance E and I don't appear to have very much in common. We are from different parts of the US, had different childhoods, and for the most part have different hobbies. I like live music, running, social networking, blogging, and watching heavy hospital dramas. He listens to Blues and Classical music, swims, reads The Economist, and could watch 'Airplane' twelve times a day and never tire of it. We do have some things in common - we both played soccer, went to the same small New England college, love traveling and exploring new places, and thankfully, we share a similar sense of humor.
There is one experience, however that we seem to share. Whenever we meet someone new, people always think they have met us before. Always. It doesn't matter where we are or what the context is - a party, the office, airports, poolside. When and if we meet someone new and introduce ourselves, they swear they have met us before.
E's experience is slightly different than mine in that he is often mistaken for someone else. I can't count the number of times he has come back from a work out, a restaurant, a football game, and told me how a stranger walked by and shouted, "Hey Man, good to see you! It's been a while!" and continued on. Or better yet, when we go to a new restaurant, the manager will welcome us back, saying how nice it is to see us again. This is an excellent advantage when dining at a fancy restaurant!
In my experience, I am never mistaken for someone else. But rather, I am told that I have met this person before. Since I do have a spotty memory, I worry that I have forgotten the person's name. But usually I am somewhere I have never been so the chances are slim. "I know I've met you"; "Didn't we meet before?" "You are so familiar, I'm sure we've met" is usually what I am faced with.
This has happened to me about 10 times in Lagos so far - two when we were on our preview trip in February. Last week, the wife of the US Consul General in Lagos told me point blank in front of a sea of people that she was sure she had met me before. How do you respond to that?
A friend who was with me thought it was amusing as I told her how common it is. I used to think it was because I was ordinary, or worse, a carbon copy of a million east coast liberal arts types. She told me she thought I had 'one of those faces' and as an outgoing person who is eager to meet new people, I come across in a familiar way. Another woman at our table said she thought I looked like a celebrity (wahoo!) but one that no one could place (boo!). Meanwhile, I've been told I look like Lady Di, Gillian Andersen, Jennifer Grey (pre-nose job!), Claire Danes, and the girl from the ill-fated but oddly addictive Covert Affairs. Hmmm, I'll take that.
I don't really mind it when this happens, but I will never understand how in the 2nd largest city in Africa, one where I am clearly a minority, the most common question I am asked is 'haven't we met before?"
(PS- I love this song waaaay before SNL or Glee!)
CKGaither