Mistaken Identities.

Today I have decided to write about an occurrence that happens every day or every two days--something that can make you really happy and sad at the same time--and something that can be very random--I'll call them mistaken identities.

Mistaken identities are simply put when you are walking somewhere and see someone who looks like someone for home. Sometimes the resemblance is just in a person's manner of walking--sometimes it's based off appearance. I have seen so many "false friends" since I've been here. I've "seen" friends from Luther, people from church back home, family members, random people from high school, family friends--just a montage of people. I always have to do a double-take when I see one. For a second I think "Why is _______ in Spain?" Then I realize it's not them. Seeing these "false friends" can be really exciting, because it reminds me of people back home--but then it's easy to get sad once you realize it isn't really that person.

Here's a great story involving mistaken identities that happened yesterday...hence prompting this blog....

So Marli and I went to 2 bookstores looking at books in English (as I discovered how much I miss reading--I read "Angels and Demons" in less than 24 hours this weekend...yikes). After browsing through the stores (ever notice how good book stores smell??), we hopped back on the bus to go home. We were on the bus, sitting near the back when suddenly at one of the stops, Marli looks up at this kid who had just gotten on the bus. He was about 12-13 years old--in the process of growing---getting taller but still looking young in the face. Marli looks at me and says, "That looks just like my brother Josh!" So she keeps looking at this kid, and eventually he and his mom come and sit near us. Marli was so happy and yet almost teary-eyed because of this kid. He could tell we were talking about him, because when he got off, he turned to us and said "Bye Bye!" Then once the doors had closed, he waved at us. She almost lost it. It was so sweet--but it made her miss home.

So yep--it was a funny moment. But that's the kind of thing I mean when I say "false friends" or "mistaken identity".

Who knows who I will "see" next?