the many names of darkwinter

Gone were the days where I'd hear my own name, pure and unviolated, when people addressed me. Western tongues just simply weren't made for Chinese names. Especially the typical Malaysian three syllable one, with your surname first and name the last two syllables. Another concept which they couldn't really grasp. If I don't write my name Hui-Ying Ang, there'd be speculations about whether my surname was Ying, or whether I would like to be called Ying or Hui, or Ying Ang. To make it easier, I've taken to introducing myself, saying my entire name, and asking the other party to choose the combination they can pronounce. Here are some of the names I respond to. =)

1. Hui - This is used mostly by Connie, Rachael and Aditi, people I'm closer to. They'd say it in the kind of way people do when you get to know a person until the point where you're comfortable enough to shorten their name to one syllable. Oh and, Mr. Downie, my Physics teacher. He said once during class, how he just cannot imagine anyone with a name like mine, and had to call me Hui if he wants me to respond. I mightn't recognize any other attempts otherwise. The "Who? Me?" kinda thing.
2. Ying - One of the easily pronouncable variations, used mostly because it's easier to say than Hui.
3. Huey - One or two people call me this. Just a friendly nickname. It's pronounced 'hew-eeee'. ^^
4. Hiu - It's a mutilated version of Hui, only used by the school photographer Mr. Hankin, who just can't say it right. And I can't be bothered correcting him. I don't talk to him enough to make it worthwhile.
5. Hui Ying - I do hear it reasonably often, only sometimes people tend to stumble and fumble over the transition from the 'i' sound to the 'y' sound. But that happens back home as well, where usually it ends up sounding like Hwing.
6. Ang Hui - On the class attendance sheet. I nearly died when I saw that. "Ang HUI?" I cried incredulously. It still hasn't changed.
7. Ying Ang - On some sports lists and things.
8. Hiu Ying - Same problem with Mr. Hankin + ying. A fellow athlete, Cathreen calls me that.

Fortunately, there are some versions that have never been repeated.

1. Hoo Eengh Aenj - My Chem teacher, Mrs. Greenhill's first attempt at my name.

Yep. That's the story. And as expected, Ang is Aeng, not Ung, like it ideally should be. But that's okay, it's understandable that they'd say it that way. Anyway, time for homework now. Thought this post might amuse you.

Over and out, yours truly Down Under.