Global networking

I studied Japanese at university and on one occasion in my third year I was introduced to my (Japanese) ex-boyfriend’s classmate who was visiting from Japan. We had a nice lunch with a bunch of others but I didn’t take her contact details and forgot about her.

Two years later after I graduated university and moved to London, I decided to look for a Japanese language exchange partner on a social Website. I clicked through all the introductions of Japanese people living in London and decided to ask a girl who was currently studying in London if she was interested in meeting up.

After writing a brief self-introduction I sent the request. The next day a reply came saying, ‘I’m sorry if I’m wrong, but are you XXXX ?? We met two years ago one time! I am a friend of YYYYY!’ We had lunch.

It turned out to be the friend of my ex-boyfriend. Strange to think that two years later we would bump in to each other online. Needless to say, we became language exchange partners and friends. I now live about an hour away from her in Japan. We’ve kept in touch – more than I did with my ex-boyfriend!

Submitted by Pippa