No matter what language you speak, what country you're from, what colour or creed you are, there is an international greeting used specifically for Welsh people in Qatar. It consists of three words delivered with a fair degree of enthusiasm. Ahhh Gareth Bale.
You can't have an argument with me about who Wales' greatest sportsman ever is. That debate is done. His global standing has done more for Wales' profile on the international stage than just about anyone else I can think of in any field.
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And now Wales is eating at the top table of World football. And it matters. Because when I was young people from other countries did not generally know where Wales was. That's not an understatement. I've had to explain it to plenty of people over the years.
And yet, when I'm walking around Qatar and meeting people from all over this planet, they know exactly where I'm from and where that is. Ahhhh Gareth Bale. That's how they tell me. Again and again.
And you know what, when I was out in Doha this week wearing my Wales football shirt for the first time, the experience was absolutely joyful.
Firstly I was accosted by a police officer. Here we go. What have I done now?
Then a great big beaming smile breaks out. "I studied at Swansea University." Of course you did. I wasn't going to travel half way around the world and not instantly bump into someone from back home was I?
It turns out our law enforcement officer loves Wales. And he's not the last to make this declaration today.
Next a man is running towards me wearing a high vis vest. "Picture, picture" he shouts, pointing at my phone.
Turns out my new friend is from Ghana, he's working on the infrastructure here. We shake hands after agreeing that Wales will beat Ghana in the World Cup final. "I will be very happy if we meet again," he tells me as we part.
Then there was the employee on the Metro system who randomly shouted "Cymru" at me. Not Wales. Cymru.
There was the Serbian who wanted to know if there was a shop that sold football shirts in Doha. He has a Welsh friend of course.
The Iranian fella with the facepaint who was far too polite when I said we were going to beat them.
There are countless nods and smiles and the odd thumbs up or a handshake. Some simply say "Wales" to which I enthusiastically reply "yes, Wales."
Say what you want about this country, the hosts and the organisers. There's plenty to say. But the atmosphere among real people, the fans, is already a bit magical. Outside the Qatar Convention Centre, where visitors are picking up various accreditations, you can already find nations embracing, laughing and joking, kicking a ball on the street together. I saw a Japanese man and an Argentinian swap shirts. The football shirt is a wonderful thing here. It's a marker, it's a name badge. It is forging friendships and sparking conversation.
Later that day I saw the former Welsh international Iwan Roberts, who spotted me before I spotted him. Thanks to a shirt. I don't know him and he didn't say a word to me, just presented a massive thumbs up and a set of pearly whites. A look on his face that said everything. How amazing is this. To be here, on top of the world experiencing this. Ahhhh Gareth Bale.
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