Geography

I find it interesting that world maps are hard to come by in stores here in Qatar.

So after combing the shelves of Carrefour (all three branches), Villagio, and that little bookstore at the 3rd floor of City Center, I decide to go to Jarir Bookstore along Salwa Road.

I ask the guy for a world map. "Follow me," he says, exuding an air of authority. He leads me to the Travel section and hands me a map of Qatar.

I hand it back. "Errr… actually, I need a world map."

He opens the map and shows me Doha, filled with little yellow and red boxes indicating Doha landmarks.

"WORLD map," I tell him again. "With all the different countries?"

He flips the map over and shows me Qatar, and points to Doha, Al Khor, Ras Laffan, and Dukhan, then tries shoving the map into my hands.

"Asia," I say. "Europe. South America. Middle East?"

"This is the map," he tells me.

"This is a map of Qatar," I inform him. "I’m looking for the WORLD map. Qatar is NOT the world."

He doesn’t respond. He looks a touch irritated. I can see he wants to move on to another customer.

With a sigh I take it from his hands, wait until he disappears behind a bookshelf, and put the map back on the shelf. After a few minutes I find a world map hiding behind some photography books.

Jeeeeesus, I am so thankful Qatar is NOT the whole world.

Currently listening to:
Spiritualized
Songs in A&E

18 comments

Yen says:

Jul 29, 2008

LOL natawa naman ako sa experience mo. sana globe n lang binili mo hehe

kala says:

Yen > I know! I think I have a dumdum magnet! Wanted to get a globe pero ang mahal naman!

jessi says:

Jul 30, 2008

jesus no. *dush* wanna makes beating him LOL “nooooo”… I have a huge world map hanging in the kitchen. dont wanna miss it again.

btw – A&E is strange but fantastic again, by Spiritualized, eh?

btw2 – one word I have to type here is Canada *cant wait*

Jessi> This album reminds me a bit of Wilco’s Sky Blue Sky for some reason! Must be the voice…
So when are you off to Caaanaddaaaaa?! Are you going to NY as well to see some bands?
Hugs to Paula

haze says:

I think I need to send Honey to educate him, hes an expert on geography! And that theWORLD has 195 independent countries , but Vatican and Kosovo are not aapparently a members of UN !

That makes Qatar not the World !

chung says:

that is a funny experience! this guy obviously have not travelled or cannot understand english!

so, have you found your world map? there must be very few bookstores over there? i had the same problem in bahrain.

haze> oo nga eh, maybe he grew up listening to the song ‘It’s a Small World’ — shudder!

chung > There are a lot of little bookstores here, but I went to the bigger ones. You’d think Virgin Megastore would have a world map! Don’t all the kids at school own one? Where do they get them?

Anyway, yep, i found a world map, but I have to remember that I can probably find things in a store in less time if I just try to find the things myself

Makis says:

What a great topic for your next post – what if Qatar was the world! But that was a relief.

analyse says:

lol. buti na nga lang. probably, he didn’t know what WORLD means!

Jul 31, 2008

Makis> damn, I don’t even want to think about it, hehehe

Ana> amazing, no? I was sure I stated WORLD clearly

Hilda says:

Aug 1, 2008

heheh funny incident.. hanggang Qatar lang ang kinaya ng powers nya kaya iyon ang world sa kanya

btw, i know you need chocos right now to cheer you up kasi malakas ang vibes ko..ninang ko yata sa balic balic si madam Auring LOL (don’t take me seriously im just really like this may sayad im glad it cheered you up

Hanim says:

Aug 2, 2008

Such a relief too that QATAR is not the WORLD!

Kel says:

Aug 3, 2008

Hey Kala!

We had a private instructor. But there is a BSAC club here…too British and I hear they’re so strict it sucks the fun out of diving, but there is also a club in Al Khor that is PADI diving. Both of these places offer courses but I can put you in contact with Khaled. Although if you are a bit worried about being underwater….might want to work on that first

How long have you been in Doha? It’s summer, and as usual there is f-all to do here. But when the weather cools off it becomes a much more enjoyable place to be

toni says:

Aug 5, 2008

You make a somehow irritating situation to be in so fun to read.

duke says:

Oh god! Maybe Qatar is the only world to him …*arrrrggghh*

Sinta says:

Aug 7, 2008

That’s was quite interesting to see his perception of the “world”. It shocks me to see that there are still people like that, although I know it is not uncommon at times. Thanks for sharing It’s quite comical in a way.