With years of experience and a newly-acquired Masters under his belt, Jan Zalm set off for a military base in the Middle East with the conviction that he could teach English to anyone. Well, he didn't teach anyone anything. But he learnt more than he could possibly have imagined. As you will see in these pages, he has compiled a collection of some of the most ridiculous, unbelievable and downright hilarious exchanges - almost all first-hand - that do an excellent job of providing a unique view into a region that is seldom associated with humour in the West.