We assumed the guy sitting next to us was Spanish, so imagine our surprise...

I chose to take my Spring 1985 semester in a college in Seville, Spain. I didn't know anyone but made some good friends right away. One of my friends, Lana, became very homesick and developed an eating disorder, lost too much weight and was excused from the program to return home to the US. I was given the task of going by bus with her to the tiny airport of Malaga, Spain to see her off safely.

At the airport, we found a bench to wait. An older man, whom we assumed was Spanish, occupied it but there was plenty of room for us to sit as well. Soon, Lana and I were talking about American politics and we were having a friendly disagreement. I felt a tap on my shoulder and turned to hear our gentleman bench mate say to me in perfect American-speak, "I agree with you." Lana and I were so happy to talk to another American and soon found out he, his wife and son were ending their visit in Spain and flying back on Lana's plane home to New Jersey, where I was born and raised.

Of course I asked him where in NJ he's from and when he said Bergenfield, I told him that although I live in South Jersey, I used to have relatives up there in the north part of the state. Bergenfield is a highly populated area but still I asked him, "Do you happen to know the Stanson's" He looked startled and quickly called to his wife and son to come over. He had me repeat the question and I added, "I lost touch with my Aunt, and four cousins when our grandmother died when I was 8 so I don't even know if they live there anymore but their names are Sylvia, Rick, Tim, Fred and Ken Stanson, the same last name as me." The man's wife said slowly "Our daughter is married to a Rick Stanson. He has three brothers and a mom named Sylvia!"

They took pictures of me at the airport and when they got home they showed them to my long lost relatives who recognized me by my Italian nose. Soon after, I received a long letter from my aunt and since then, we have stayed in touch and have developed a nice relationship. What are the chances of resting on a bench 3,000 miles from home and meeting your cousin's in laws? When I think of all of the coincidences involved in meeting these people, I am still truly amazed!