Mei Goon

Hon had a huge group project due this week.  So, like a good family, his parents and I stayed up with him to midnight on Monday as he finished his section of the paper.  I was perfectly content to quietly fold paper flowers and play games on my ipad.  His parents, on the other hand, continued to talk to Hon, critique his posture and be otherwise distracting.

Fortunately, they eventually left him alone as they began to discuss my "Chinese name."   My name is pretty hard for them to pronounce.  In fact, I had mentioned to Hon a while ago that I was thinking that his parents should just call me Mei.  He said no.  I would be making it too easy for them.  It seemed like a legitimate argument, so I dropped the idea.

And then the Chinese name making began.  It was actually pretty cool at first.  This first syllable was easy: Mei.  "Pretty."  See?  I don't mind being called pretty.  But then the debate over what word sounded close to my second syllable.  I'm sure some not-so-flattering words got tossed out there given how many times Hon's mom said "Wha? No, no, NO!"

They settled on "Mei Goon."  If this is acceptable, I can't imagine what "No, no, NO!" was.  I know this ends up being translated as something like "Pretty moonlight," but.. Goon? Seriously?


Oh yea, definitely regret listening to Hon now.


edit: I've included, for your enjoyment, the coffee stained napkin that holds my new name.  At least it looks prettier than it sounds.