[X86BSD]

I think you mean Middle East? The Midwest of the US has not been invaded by American troops. :)

[makapuf]

Well, tell that to the native Americans :)

[X86BSD]

Touche! The first people have a beef you are correct.

[marcosdumay]

Ops. Where did English get East and West from anyway that it became so different from latin languages?

[kej]

From PIE via Proto-Germanic:

http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=east http://www.etymonline.com/index.php?term=west

[X86BSD]

Fascinating link, thank you! I know what I will be wasting away the day doing now.

[marcosdumay]

No kidding, "oeste" in Portuguese comes from the same word as in English, but I still mix them up. That's shameful.

Thanks a lot for those links.