Geography Lesson

My geography skills are wretched. I think I only had to learn geography in grade school and seriously, who retains that stuff? In order to demonstrate my ignorance, I would like to relate two conversations in my recent history:

Friend: Yeah, you can look on that map and see all the places we've been. Little colour coded pins, gotta love 'em.
Me: I am so bad at maps. I should buy one.
F: Well, take a look there and see where you're going to be soon!
M: Um.
F: Yeah?
M: I have a question. What is this little bit here?
F: That's Wales.
M: (pause) What do you call people from Wales?
F: Uh, Welsh.
M: Ohhh!! See, because I know Wales and I know Welsh, but I didn't realise they were connected.
F: ... I think I'm going to buy you a map. And you should read more.

The second scenario just occurred as I was telling my family of my flight path to the UK. I told my dad I was stopping in Dubai, which I thought was in India. Alas, my father pointed out to me that while I will fly over India, Dubai is in the United Arab Emirates. Ah. The things I learn. I still swear that travel agent pointed out Dubai in India. I mean, I might suck at maps, but I can find India.

For a "world traveler", I should really be smarter than I am.