As English majors, we were asked to write down our English names alongside our Chinese ones in the roll-call book back in college. My dorm mates and I went back, rummaging through the dictionary to find a suitable name. The strategy was clear: it should be similar in pronunciation with one’s Chinese name. In the end, the girl whose family name is Su chose the obvious Sue, Jia selected Jocelyn, Liang Lisa and I went for Connie as my surname is Kang.

But I felt really uncomfortable answering to it in class. I just didn’t relate to it. And it became worse when this weird foreign English teacher insisted on pronouncing it ['kʌni]instead of ['kɔni] as I preferred.

I later changed it once, or twice to whatever seemed fit then. But I didn’t feel much different.

Luckily that didn’t go on for a long time. This teacher, who was in no way qualified was fired after half a semester and we had a new wonderful Kiwi teacher. He was learning Chinese and could well pronounce Kang and better still, remember it.

Five years on, I am still grappling with this English name conundrum. Should I have an English name? Why do I need it?

I’ve adopted Joey as my English name as I’m constantly asked in work as an interpreter. I also wanted to make it easier for foreigners who always find Chinese names difficult to say. But with Joey, it’s not quite what I had in mind. I was identified as Joe, Joy and Zoey and asked questions like isn’t it a boy’s name or are you a fan of Joey the Hong Kong singer.

So I’m thinking of abandoning it and use my family name, which is not at all mouthful. However, the last time I did so, I got a sneer from this Chinese lady who were about to introduce me to her foreign boss. It was very confusing for me. What’s wrong with using the pinyin of my Chinese name when talking to foreigners?

The foreigners don’t have Chinese names and no one laughs at them!

Well, to be fair, several foreign diplomats I’ve worked with do have Chinese names. That’s understandable. But still, people would call them by their real names most of the time.

But I’ve made up my mind. If I can say those foreigners’ names, surely they have no problem with my four-letter surname. And in most cases, there are many of them from different countries, and only one of me.

This is more natural and real for me and I think it would be so for foreigners too.

I printed a box of name cards bearing the name Joey but I don’t give it out anymore.Yet I’m stuck with it here at CD. I’m sure I can live with this.