# Geographically singular encounters - do you have the most far-flung acquaintances? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 7, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271 "2002-10-07T22:28:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [October 7, 2002, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/1 "2002-10-07T22:28:28Z")
Today I met one of my work colleagues with an unusual (to me) name. When I asked him the origin of his name he said he was from Laos. I remarked “You’re the first person I’ve ever met from Laos!” Then I started thinking back, how many times has that happened, where I have met one (but only one) person from a particular country? Usually you meet small-country denizens at least in pairs. What I’ve come up with so far: [ul][li]Laos (at work) I was going to guess Cambodia.[/li][li]Iceland (at a beach party in Southern California). He asked me to guess which Scandinavian country he came from, and said it would take more than three tries. I came up with Iceland on my second guess (having just re-read “Voyage to the Center of the Earth”). Ha![/li][li]Uzbekistan (also at work) - I met this Uzbek person _after_ the country became independent from the USSR. I guessed that he was from Russia.[/ul][/li]Here are the rules I followed to make up my list: [list=A][li]The person must have told you that s/he was from that particular country, or else you were able to ascertain that with a reasonable degree of accuracy.[/li][li]You have never met anyone else from that country.[/li][li]F2F meeting, i.e. you could have reached out and touched the other person.[/li][li]If you managed to guess what country the person was from before s/he told you, that’s double points.[/li][li]If no other Doper knows someone from that country, that’s triple points.[/li][li]If you’ve met an authentic citizen of the Vatican that’s quadruple points.[/li][li]A passionate romance with this geographically unique person counts as quintuple points![/list=A][/li]P.S. No “fake” countries like the Sultanate of Kinakuta or the Duchy of Grand Fenwick. Here’s a reference: [United Nations Member States](http://www.un.org/Overview/unmember.html) P.P.S. Not countries: Scotland and Wales (despite what FIFA says), Sealand, Texas, or New York City. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/2 "2002-10-08T12:31:14Z")
I know a lady from the Caucasian state of Georgia. We used to work in the same office. I don’t know any other Georgians. At college I was acquainted with a young gentleman from Burma (a former freedom campaigner who had escaped the country with assistance from one of the college’s dons). I don’t know anyone else from Burma. ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/3 "2002-10-08T12:51:50Z")
I know one person from Trinidad and Tobago, one other from Botswana and one from Uganda. Of course, I’ve not been in touch with any of them in ages, so they may not count - I went to college with all three of them. ---
**Author:** ![Edward\_The\_Head](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ce73a5/32.png) [@Edward\_The\_Head](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Edward_The_Head)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/4 "2002-10-08T12:57:01Z")
> [@](#): > > _Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried \* > [list=A][li]The person must have told you that s/he was from that particular country, or else you were able to ascertain that with a reasonable degree of accuracy.[/li][li]You have never met anyone else from that country.[/li][li]F2F meeting, i.e. you could have reached out and touched the other person.[/li][li]If you managed to guess what country the person was from before s/he told you, that’s double points.[/li][li]If no other Doper knows someone from that country, that’s triple points.[/li][li]If you’ve met an authentic citizen of the Vatican that’s quadruple points.[/li][li]A passionate romance with this geographically unique person counts as quintuple points![/list=A][/li]_\* I have meet a woman from Azerbaijan, I know no one else from that country, I do not know if any dopers know anyone from that country, I knew in and about where she was from and I had a brief romance with her. I also know a woman from the Ukraine, however I know her mother does that count? I lived with her for a year so that’s why I know her mother otherwise I would not know anyone else from the area. I guess according to the strict rules she doesn’t count. ☹ I also worked with a woman from the West coast of Africa, though for the life of me I can not remember where, I think the Ivory Coast, which of course is not on your list. I’ll have to think more since I know lots of people from all over the world, though I think my first person should really give me some points. ---
**Author:** ![Eva\_Luna](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e495f1/32.png) [@Eva\_Luna](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eva_Luna)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/5 "2002-10-08T13:54:50Z")
Well, I used to work at Immigration Court, so I honestly can’t think of any countries whose citizens I haven’t met in person. I’ve personally known Uzbeks, Georgians, and Azerbaijanis, among many, many others, although not yet a citizen of the Vatican. (Hijack: Does the Vatican issue passports? If so, what do they look like, and are they printed in Latin?) As for passionate romances: I did have one for 2-1/2 years with a Dagestani. (Yeah, I know Dagestan is part of Russia, but there are several dozen distinct non-Russian languages spoken there by as many ethnic groups. Culturally and sociologically, it’s hardly part of Russia at all.) When I mentioned to my college roomie that I had subscribed to Foreign Affairs, she asked, “Why did you bother? It’s the story of your damn life!” ---
**Author:** ![Fretful\_Porpentine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fretful_porpentine/32/2873_2.png) [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/6 "2002-10-08T14:11:16Z")
Afghanistan (former student) Ghana (ditto) Malaysia and Denmark (if casual encounters count) Israel, Norway, and Sweden (if casual encounters DON’T count – I’ve met several people from each country while traveling, but there’s only one I’m likely to be in touch with again) ---
**Author:** ![hedra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/779978/32.png) [@hedra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hedra)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/7 "2002-10-08T14:11:32Z")
Like most people, I know more than one person from a country if I know any. But going down the handy list (very helpful, that list), I came up with a stack of countries from which I know or have met only one person. Armenia – (2 Mar. 1992) - 1, from work Bahrain – (21 Sep. 1971) - 1, traveled in China with her Bulgaria – (14 Dec. 1955) - 1, met her at a block party, helped edit her resume Costa Rica – (2 Nov. 1945) - 1, in my equitation class in college Denmark – (24 Oct. 1945) - 1, my thesis advisor Egypt – (24 Oct. 1945) - 1, met him in college at the model UN conference Finland – (14 Dec. 1955) - 1, epeepunk’s aunt Ghana – (8 Mar. 1957) - 1, the husband of one of my classmates in grad school (maker of the best Ghanean hot sauce, home grown chilis… very hot, very flavorful… and unfortunately, died of cancer last year ☹ ) Latvia – (17 Sep. 1991) - 1, one of my college profs, but I met him socially before I had classes with him Nicaragua – (24 Oct. 1945) - 1, also met her while traveling in China, political refugee in the US as a child (parents in prison), now teaches Spanish. Swaziland – (24 Sep. 1968) - 1, a visiting professor (economics of developing nations) Tajikistan – (2 Mar. 1992) - 1, from work. Uganda – (25 Oct. 1962) - 1, a friend in grade school (just moved to the US) I get no double points for guessing locations (I sometimes can guess an accent after I’ve encountered it at least once, but on the first try, not a chance!). I get no quintuple points (all my hot romances with people from other countries involved countries from which I knew many people). And Vatican isn’t even on my list. My only hope for extra points is having nobody else with that country on their list… ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/8 "2002-10-08T14:19:53Z")
One of our engineers is from Cambodia. That would be it for me. ---
**Author:** ![Tansu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/67e7ee/32.png) [@Tansu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tansu)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/9 "2002-10-08T14:22:40Z")
I used to know a bloke from Trinidad, I used to work with a monk from Ghana, I used to know three lasses from Costa Rica. I know a half-Ukrainian lady, and her fully Ukrainian mother. Oh, and one of my high school Maths teachers was Ukrainian. Knew a white Swazi brewery heiress at college. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/10 "2002-10-08T14:26:44Z")
I used to work with a woman from Kenya. I went to college with a guy from Greece. I worked on an Apple Pilot program with a guy from Egypt. ---
**Author:** ![Anahita](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a9a28c/32.png) [@Anahita](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anahita)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/11 "2002-10-08T14:27:29Z")
I do laundry at the laundromat weekly with a lovely woman from Reunion Island. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/12 "2002-10-08T14:34:09Z")
Burma ---
**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/13 "2002-10-08T14:35:27Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Eva Luna \* > \*\* (Hijack: Does the Vatican issue passports? If so, what do they look like, and are they printed in Latin?) > \*\* Yes, the Vatican issues passports: > [@](#): > > The Vatican protects its citizens, though there are only about 400 of them. To hold a Vatican passport is to belong to one of the world’s most exclusive clubs. Vatican citizens either live or work permanently in the city or are abroad on diplomatic missions for the Catholic Church. (from [http://www.goporta.com/vatican/Vatican.htm](http://www.goporta.com/vatican/Vatican.htm)) Also, from [http://www.cwnews.com/Browse/2001/02/14790.htm](http://www.cwnews.com/Browse/2001/02/14790.htm) > [@](#): > > Formally, the Vatican city-state has a tiny population of citizens-- less than 1,000-- consisting primarily of cardinals and diplomats whose work requires a Vatican passport. There are about 300 people living within the geographical confines of the Vatican, and another 2,000 who work on the premises. I have not, however, found anything about whether the passports are in Latin. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/14 "2002-10-08T23:25:01Z")
I know a lot of people from a lot of countries, but I know too many to qualify for this “one and only one” game. The only one I could come up with is Paraguay. A friend and I had a joke that Paraguay didn’t really exist, because neither of us had ever met a Paraguayan or anyone who had been to Paraguay (and he’s never left South America!). I now have a Paraguayan friend. ---
**Author:** ![chula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a4c791/32.png) [@chula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chula)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/15 "2002-10-08T23:29:30Z")
I thought of another one! **Malta**. I knew him in Mexico four years ago. He taught me a lot about Malta. I met a friend of a friend many years ago from **the Maldives**. I recall ever meeting anyone else from there. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/16 "2002-10-08T23:43:34Z")
I had a crush on a fellow I met in Matsuyama, Japan while studying in Kobe. Does that count? I also worked with a fellow from Nigeria for a while. CJ ---
**Author:** ![Yossarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/9de0a6/32.png) [@Yossarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yossarian)\ **Post date:** [October 8, 2002, 11:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/17 "2002-10-08T23:57:26Z")
All I can think of: **Argentina** – 1, a current friend and former college chum. He had to tell me where he was from, since his parents immigrated from Germany to Argentina right before WW2 (he and they are Jewish). He found his way to West Texas via connections with a west Texan he met at a Kibbutz. I’ve known him for ~10 years now and he’s since become a naturalized citizen, which I guess makes him a German-Jewish-Argentinian-American. **Bulgaria** – 1, the wife of a former colleague. She was actually an Armenian, born in Bulgaria to Armenian-Turkish parents. **Cambodia** – 1, a former student of mine. **Qatar** – 1, a guy who was a graduate student with me. **Sudan** – 1, another guy who was a gradute student with me. **Kuwait** – 1, one of my father’s former employees. **Bangladesh** – 1, a former employer. **Poland** – 1, a friend’s girlfriend. All of 'em, I’ve known personally. Only one (the Argentinian-American) I’m still in contact with. And ALL had to tell me where they were from; I couldn’t correctly guess! ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 12:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/18 "2002-10-09T00:06:03Z")
I once slept with an Uzbek. (Be the first one on your block!) Well, actually, strictly speaking he wasn’t an Uzbek - he was an Uzbekistani of Russian descent. But “I slept with an Uzbek!” sounds better. ---
**Author:** ![dangermom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e274bd/32.png) [@dangermom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dangermom)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/19 "2002-10-09T01:06:49Z")
A guy from Kuwait once tried to romance me, but I wasn’t having any. So I _could_ have had a passionate romance, I just didn’t. Does that count? Also, I’ve known one guy from Azerbaijan. And my SIL is from Kaliningrad, which isn’t a country, being part of Russia, but it’s a separate tiny bit of Russia, so I’ll throw that in. ---
**Author:** ![Mullinator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c2a13f/32.png) [@Mullinator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mullinator)\ **Post date:** [October 9, 2002, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271/20 "2002-10-09T13:14:42Z")
In a group of 12 people, I work with 2 from the Netherlands. What makes that slightly stranger is that the work I do has no specific need for Dutch knowledge, they do work that is not specific to Dutch strengths, and they didn’t know each other beforehand. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/geographically-singular-encounters-do-you-have-the-most-far-flung-acquaintances/131271.md?page=2)