A brief treatise on names in Iraq...
I arrived back in Baghdad today. The trip was uneventful. As we were leaving Arbil, I saw a sign that made me laugh out loud.
"National Iraq Foundation for Communications and Industry"
This sign sounds like it would be attached to a large government building, but, in fact, it was a mobile phone store. Smaller than the Verizon outlet in San Luis Obispo.
Which leads me to reflect on business names here. By and large, there seem to be two types of business names. The first, "Al (whatever)", which, when translated, frequently winds up being something like "The Hammer Store" or "The Pants Store" or "Bob's Store".
The second is ridiculously important sounding. The above mentioned "Hammer Store" would wind up as something like "Iraq Center for Specialized Construction Equipment and Materials". If I saw a store like that in the U.S., I'd be afraid to shop there. "Jesus, they'd just laugh at me if I walked into that place and asked for a hammer. They're the National Center for Specialized Construction Equipment and Materials!"
I don't have any special insight into this phenomenon, it's just something I've noticed.
Also, in Mosul, I met three unrelated (I'm pretty sure) men named Eunice.
This is a weird country.
"National Iraq Foundation for Communications and Industry"
This sign sounds like it would be attached to a large government building, but, in fact, it was a mobile phone store. Smaller than the Verizon outlet in San Luis Obispo.
Which leads me to reflect on business names here. By and large, there seem to be two types of business names. The first, "Al (whatever)", which, when translated, frequently winds up being something like "The Hammer Store" or "The Pants Store" or "Bob's Store".
The second is ridiculously important sounding. The above mentioned "Hammer Store" would wind up as something like "Iraq Center for Specialized Construction Equipment and Materials". If I saw a store like that in the U.S., I'd be afraid to shop there. "Jesus, they'd just laugh at me if I walked into that place and asked for a hammer. They're the National Center for Specialized Construction Equipment and Materials!"
I don't have any special insight into this phenomenon, it's just something I've noticed.
Also, in Mosul, I met three unrelated (I'm pretty sure) men named Eunice.
This is a weird country.