[cjmewett]

I think gwhiz's post nails it. Often the problem that I have (and I'm the same way as kipin) is that I'm not really paying attention to what the other person is saying. I'm worrying about the handshake, or smiling, or if they're going to ask me a question, or whatever.

One difference is that I don't think it's a matter of trying to think of what to say next; when speaking another language -- and usually really needing to actually think about my words -- I'm often much better at remembering names. This may be a function of the names being less common and thus more memorable, but I don't think so. I lived in Poland for a year and a half, where probably 90% of people have one of about a dozen names. I rarely had problems remembering which was theirs while there.