In Season

Much to my dismay, I spotted a cockroach lurking outside the main door of my building.

Looks like it's cockroach season again. : (

All in a Name

Before I moved to Taiwan, I was under the impression that Asian immigrants only choose "boring" English names. Common names that occur in a classroom 2 or 3 times: Danny, David, Michael, Jerry, Johnny. Jenny, Cindy, Amy, Julie.

Boy was I ever wrong.

Turns out Asians can be rather creative when choosing English names. And turns out that browsing the company phone directory can be quite entertaining.

We have famous people who work here: Gauss, Morse, Dior, Gucci, Yanni, Yoda.

And then we have...

AceBest AOK Bear Bigfox Culture - given name translated literally Double - given name has the family name repeated! Dragon Ericbill - guess they couldn't decide? Forever - Chinese name has the word "ever" Frog - uh... I got nothin' Frost Gene - 2 with this name; does that make it a Gene pool? Magic Megaa - complete with echo! Milk

MIT - show-off Mtjade - named after the mountain... "Mt." included! Nivea - walking advertisement Ripple Showermi - how forward! Singing Smallp - um. Shock Testy - UM. Tobaccoo Twodogs Walksky - kinda like Skywalker, but no copyright infringement Wealth - clear goals in life Wego - where?

(Note: These are all taken from the company directory. Just a subset of "interesting" names. And I didn't list any names that were Chinese names written in English, only literal translations.)

I know about a third of the people above, and they're very nice people.

Now I realize that people are free to take on any name they please. However, this name is used for their corporate e-mail address. So maybe they should put more thought into finding a name that will represent them professionally, instead of choosing an alias for a BBS/forum.

And perhaps HR should consider having a name book on hand for when new employees report to work.

Au clair de la lune

Today is 元宵節, which is the first full moon after the Lunar New Year. It's customary to gather and to light "sky lanterns". On them, you write your wishes and hopes for the year, and then watch the little paper hot air balloons float up into the night sky.... Well, I had to miss it this year. Boooo.

But the full moon was lovely. As I stared up at it, I was reminded of a friend.

See, I haven't talked to this friend for about a year now. We used to talk on the phone (long-distance, I might add) on full moon nights, just about life, about everything, about nothing. We got along great and understood each other really well, especially considering we aren't even on the same continent.

About a year ago, though, we stopped talking (for reasons I'm not at liberty to disclose). Zero contact.

I don't usually think of this friend, not so much anymore. I guess you just have to accept the fact and move on. But tonight as I looked up at the silver moon, I did.

And I wondered when it might be okay again.

Sorry, where am I from again?

My friend brought a beautiful "carrying" case to my desk today, measuring 24"x4"x2.5". Inside, nestled in a bed of... shiny polyester... was a nice champagne flute, and a bottle of ice wine.

As lovely as it was, and as delighted as I was to receive this gift, I looked at my coworker and exclaimed,

"Have you forgotten where I'm from??"

Product of Canada.