The post about The Gambia
The Peace Corps has accepted my cousin Tim; he's set to go to The Gambia in late spring. (See this description and map of the country.) The country's official name is "Republic of The Gambia," but it's friends call it "The Gambia," something I think is pretty cool. How many countries get a capitalized "The" as part of their informal name? Not many, I would guess.
The article "The" adds prestiege, as in "The New York Times" and "The Single Guy." Imagine if the president (or "The President") of The Gambia (e-mail him here, maybe) called President Bush.
Ring, ring. Answers phone.
"Welcome the White House, President's Bush's secretary speaking. How may I direct your call?"
"Hi there, this is Yahya Jammeh. I run The Gambia. Is George around?"
"The Gambia?"
"Yes, ma'am."
Runs into the Oval Office to tell George to pick up the line.
