Day Two
Our boxes have been delivered and at last we’re ready for show time. When the doors open today, nearly 10,000 teachers and school children stream in. They’re clutching 10 Dirham coupons courtesy of the sheik and they’re eagerly looking for books to buy. Reportedly, the government distributes about 4 million dirhams worth of coupons (about $1.1 million) to teachers, parents and kids to subsidize the purchase of books at the Fair. Kids in uniforms of all types from mini thobes (the traditional white gowns worn by Arab men) and abayas (the long black gowns worn by the women) to British prep school jumpers dash through the halls. The range of uniforms confirms what we’ve been told about the proliferation of private and independent schools in the region.
One of our exhibitors succumbs to temptation and sells a book. Folks in our group say they could have sold everything in their booths today. But, since they’re here in search of rights deals and distributors, they won’t have anything to demo if they sell now. This yin and yang–the public good versus the business purpose–is one of the challenges faced by the Fair. Not to worry we learn, there’s yet another incentive program–a $1,000 bonus to buyers who purchase rights at the Fair.
Later, I stand in line waiting to redeem the four 10 Dirham coupons we took in today. All around me are people with bags and wads of coupons. They tease me about my big “deal” and finally one of them offers to redeem my coupons from his pocket money. We laugh and I hand over my coupons and accept the cash. Tomorrow is another day.
–Submitted by Charlene Gaynor
