To be Happy

“Happy!!! Why Happy?”

Happy has been in America two years. The first day I met her, she stands in front of the library alone. Waiting. The morning sunshine painted her short hair light brown. I had a glance in the car; she is about two inches taller than me.

Mom dropped me off at the library; she signed up an art class for me to enjoy few days ago. To be honest I have no clue why I came here; I can’t draw. Period. Oh well, at less I am not stuck in the house. Once I walked towards the library I realized she might be in the same program.

She has Asian looks just like me. I was so surprised and cheerful. We introduced our selves to each other. I was thrilled she can speak Chinese and live around here. That’s means she could be my first best friend in America. We could learn English together. I am not alone any more.

Unlike my complicating name, her name is “Happy”. Easy to remember and pronounce. “To be happy is a day, or not to be is a day. Why not be Happy!” I laughed and agreed with her. I told her “I like to hang out with happy and be her friend as well.” We smiled at each other.

Even though I am not good at drawing, but I had fun spend time with my friend Happy. Mom was amazed and shocked when I told her about Happy.

“That’s GREAT you have make new friend! But what’s her real name again?”

“Happy!”

“Happy!!! Why Happy? You should tell her to change her name. It doesn’t sounds like a proper name in America! At school people might make fun of her because of her name.”

I gave my Mom a stare, then I said “Okay…”

I know my mom is kindly want to help. But it makes me questioning what is America culture? Judge other by how they look and their names?

Happy kept her name, because it’s meaningful for herself. She is proud to be Happy. And I am happy have a friend like Happy. 

By the way, Happy doesn't have any trouble with her name yet, let's just hope nobody would make fun of her culture and name in the future. 

Gwenyth is part of ME.

According to my Mom “Gwenyth” is a beautiful welsh name. She chose this name three years ago when they decided to adopt me from China. So I only been “Gwenyth” for three years. My mother wanted her children have unique names because she had hard times with a common name when she grow up. She used to tell me all the time when she was young there were at least three kids in class have same name with her. She didn’t like it at all, and didn’t want us have the same experiences. So all my sisters have a very unique names.

Here is the problem I have with a unique name. I still clearly remember the first half of year I arrived in America; every time I try to introduce myself I just can’t pronounce that name right. It not only gave me embarrassment as well as worn out my confidences to speak English. Therefore I don’t like this name at all. However as a “stranger” I don’t have the courage to tell my new parents and bother them to change it as well. Luckily as time pass by, all those practice I did and I slowly became more use to speak English. It make me fell little better.

I know my name is bit long; I don’t mind people call me “Gwen” “ Gwenie” at all. However don’t call me “Gwen” in front of my Mom, she might will correct you to call my full name. Not because she wanted me have a longer name than others.  It’s simply because she found out from my Chinese friend that “Gwen” sounds like “get out” in Chinese. She translates that as a bad luck. Well I use to explain to her that other people don’t understand Chinese as well as I know they don’t mean it. The most importantly I don’t care. But she won’t listen to me any way. After few times of discuss about the nick name I give up.  Not because I can not change her decision, I guess that’s her way to show her love. So I choose to accept it. Now look back I don’t have much opinions about my name any more. I had so many names as I grow up. For example “Shasha” ,“Xiaofei’, “Xiuli”, and “Gwenyth”. I love all my names. Each name I had it carries unique memories and experiences. They all make up my childhood, life and belongs to me.

Additionally, I have to thanks this assignment that made me find  out more values about myself. As well as more information about “Gwenyth”, according to Google, it means “happiness; fair bow; blessed ring”. And an American actress Gwyneth Paltrow and me share the same first name( Kinda). After all it’s a cool name and I’m proud of my name.