| [ EnglishOnly ] in KIDS 글 쓴 이(By): GLOCK23 (글 락 23�) 날 짜 (Date): 1995년11월13일(월) 20시32분47초 KST 제 목(Title): RE] English Name Hmm... let me tell you what I think about that.. Living in this country(i.e. USA) without English name may bring occasional discomfort.. however, keeping your Korean (or any given) name and using it should not be reluctant. If you are ashamed, by any chance, of your Korean name, it may very much mean that you are denying your heritage and orgin. Hoping that is not your case, let me tell you a story of mine own: I went out with an American girl to a movie when I was in 8th grade. I was known, at the time, only by my Korean name (경호) and everyone had a heck of time pronouncing my name ("Ki-ong", "Ky-ong", etc. - and undoubtedly many were making fun of it).. and this girl, after the movie, assigned me an English name: "Rocky!" Next day at school, everyone preferred and started calling me by that name (although some preferred "Long-Duk-Dong"). =) (Oh, we watched Rocky III ... and she thought I had similar char. with Sly.. or something =) ) I moved to a new school in my sophomore year (H.S.) and I had to carry my Korean name on the document.. and you can imagine all these things happening again.. until I became known as "Rocky" again. But I did not mind being called by my Korean name..as a matter of fact, some of my teachers liked my Korean name better and tried so hard to pronounce it correctly, and I was thankful for that. When I was naturalized 3-4 years ago, I was considering changing my name permanently.. (at the time, I was known as "Rocky" by everyone... and I mean everyone.. I was employed under that name, and had credit cards issued in that name, etc.) But after a long consideration, I kept my Korean name.. Even today, all my American friends know me only as "Rocky".. But at the beginning of each new semesters, when they first take attendence roll, I answer to "Kyong-ho" loudly without hesitation.. (and my friends wonder ??? and I take a minute to explain.. and they take it naturally because I am Korean!!! I hope to get this message across to you, my frined.. If your Environment makes you distinguishable because you are Korean, let it be.. you don't have to try to blend in and become one of them.. and most of all, you should not be embarassed of your Korean name because it is the name you parents so thoughtfully spent time to come up with.. and you look Korean and are , indeed, different from the rest, even with an English name. Ha~poom~~! It's 4:30 a.m. and I feel mighty tired... but I hope my 1/2-asleep argument made sense to you.. =) |