About Raindrops and Bananas
As it turns out, our part of Houston received more than eight inches of rain in 24 hours, and nearly 15 inches in 30 hours. Across town, 6.9 inches of rain fell in a single hour. Before this happened, the girls were under the impression that it didn't rain much in Houston. Even during the hurricane we didn't receive this much rain.
The digital invitations to the No Price Too Great book signing event started going out yesterday. I think the sponsors are using Constant Contact as the way to distribute them. Now the race is on to see if we can complete Cici's adoption process before the May 19 book signing.
Your new name is already famous, I teased Cici. We did a Google search for Angela Tianjiao Solomon and she came up in two places. I also found out why she has never liked the name Tianjiao. Some of her Chinese classmates in Guangzhou called her Banana Banana because of the name. They were teasing, of course, but she still didn't like it. Probably all you would have to worry about in America with that name is being called TJ, I told her.
The digital invitations to the No Price Too Great book signing event started going out yesterday. I think the sponsors are using Constant Contact as the way to distribute them. Now the race is on to see if we can complete Cici's adoption process before the May 19 book signing.
Your new name is already famous, I teased Cici. We did a Google search for Angela Tianjiao Solomon and she came up in two places. I also found out why she has never liked the name Tianjiao. Some of her Chinese classmates in Guangzhou called her Banana Banana because of the name. They were teasing, of course, but she still didn't like it. Probably all you would have to worry about in America with that name is being called TJ, I told her.
Hi Lee,
I am an asian immigrant woman who read your story. I want to tell something to CiCi. If you don't agree with me, you can ignore my message. It's just my thoughts. I see that CiCi wants to change her name to Angela Solomon. I had the same feeling when I came to this country 1st time, but I kept my real name. Someday CiCi might realize that she shouldn't have change her chinese name. It may have to do with her age (adolescent, peer pressure?). If so this period will pass, and she may miss who she really is. I really hope CiCi embraces her real name and her true self. She does not have to follow every american thing, she does not have to have an american name. Being yourself is a beautiful thing. There won't be any contradictions in soul. Her name is very beautiful as it is. There are many successful asian american woman with asian names.
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Thank you so much for reading about our family, and even more for your comment about Cici's name.
I agree completely with your comment. While Cici wants very badly to give up her Chinese name completely, I have talked with her about what you have pointed out here. I will make sure that she reads your comment as well, because this is a very important decision for her.
It is not difficult for me to understand Cici's desire to not use her Chinese family name, because that name comes from a father who abandoned her when she was a baby. But to me, giving up her given Chinese name would be like giving up a part of her Chinese heritage, and she should be proud to be Chinese. We talked about that a lot, and she eventually agreed to keep her given Chinese name as her new middle name. You have given me a reason to talk with her again about this, which I appreciate very much.
Ping and I have also subtly pointed out to Cici that the only other Chinese girl at her school has not adopted an Americanized name, and her Chinese name is not that easy for Americans to pronounce or spell. We also have a Chinese woman living nearby, and she never adopted an Americanized name. She has nevertheless been very successful in business in America.
Ping and Cici decided on Angela as a name before they moved to America. I am not sure what prompted them to do that, especially since Ping has kept her Chinese name, just adding my family name to it.
You know, I have always hated my first and my middle names. Lee is a name that I adopted for myself when I was old enough to do that. Ironically, Ping and Cici tell me that they love my given names more than any other American names, and they practiced for months to learn how to pronounce them. It is so cute to hear them struggle with them, as the letter combinations make it very difficult for them to pronounce. They wanted to be able to say them correctly at their visa interview in Guangzhou.
I hope you will keep reading along with us, and would welcome further comments.
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Lee,
Thanks for the response. I am glad you understood my intention. Whichever name Cici chooses, I wish her the best. It's really important decision.
I will be reading your story. I enjoy it a lot.
Thank you.
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LOL. banana. That's a shame. Well at least her name is not the name of a famous store or anything. I know a girl named Ikea, and she just can't seem to hear the end of it!
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Hi there. I have read some of the other comments, and I too hope CiCi will think twice about her Chinese name. Having a culture is a beautiful thing. It would be sad, if she got rid of it little by little.
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