Some people really surprise me with simple questions: "Do you know Firas?"
When I moved into this city, the first question anyone would ask was: "Where are you from?". When my answer to that was Syria, the next question was: "Do you know Firas?". I was surprised, everyone: juniour doctors, nurses, medical school clerks, and even exchange students were showering me with the very same question. And to make things more tricky, there was one colleague who was supposed to come to the hospital after a few days. I didn't believe that every one knew him by name even before he arrived.
Then I had to ask the only logical question in such a case: "Who the hell is Firas?"...Well, it turned out that Firas was a medical student at the local university. Sure, I didn't know him.
I don't know why on earth everybody was asking me that question. What difference would it make if I knew Firas, or had another friend back home who, by chance, was named Firas too. To me, asking such a question sounded like asking someone from France: "Do you know Jacque?" Or asking a Chinese guy: "Do you know Chan?"
Finally, I met Firas. He was rather astonished that everyone knew him by name, and knew that he was from Syria. For me, I felt like I found a treasure. Not only because I can answer the question now, but because I learned a new trick.
The next time I met a student who said was from Scotland, I immediately asked: "Do you know Andrew?"...
I let you to imagine how puzzled he looked!
10 comments:
really amusing anecdote,
i learned the trick;)
ههههههههههههه
nice one!
Lol, people think there are ten of us for every sq. mile.
By the was Ascribo, since you are somewhere in England.
Do you know Charles?
Glad you liked it...
Thank you all for passing by..
Abufares, You seem to have learnt the trick very fast! ;)
That's a good one ... I like that a lot! It only startled me at first as I have indeed a really good friend with this name but he lives at a different neck of the woods ...
Thanks Ascribo - you made me laugh!
You see Karin! I knew many people named Firas too! That's exactly how I felt...
Nice to see you here...Thanks for passing by..
here is another trick. works for muslim countries but can be adapted to otger religions too.
ask "where are you from"
he says xxx.
pretend as if you know the place. ask
where in xxx? which neighborhood? which street.
and in the end ask "where is it exactly when you center the mosque."
there is a mosque in everywhere. so he will just think you really know the place.
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