Tomorrow we're hosting Thanksgiving, 12 people at the table, and you can bet that the name question will be discussed and debated a bit.
We're trying to figure out just how much to invest in the name that the orphanage staff gave Cha Jiao. If she has been called that for the first year of her life, do we honor that or move on to something more Americanized? Complicating matters is that the name is in itself an unusual name in Mandarin, and we're trying to figure out more on the meaning. In China, you see, names are invested with a lot of meaning and context, moreso than in the US.
Suggestions in the comment section are welcome, which despite our best intentions is still making folks sign up with blogger first. Any complaints about this practice should be directed at our friend who works for Google.
Oh, and those 12 people (10 guests) will be at our apartment. We're feeding 12 for dinner, and then my sister and her husband and their two kids join us for dessert. That will be one crowded apartment. Should be fun, although clean-up will be a challenge. But that's why I volunteered to do the cooking... -- Dan
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Oh, and I suggest that you integrate two names into her life, and let her choose.
-- Someone that works for Google.
I agree with the idea of using two names. Regardless of where her present name came from or why it was given to her, it represents her whole life history to this point. Also (although this should probably be taken with a large pinch of salt, since what I know about child development could fit on one side of a business card in fourteen-point type), wouldn't it be kind of traumatic for her to acquire a new name/lose her old one at the same time every other thing in her life is changing?
Have a happy, no-hassle Thanksgiving-- I'll be thinking of you all and the people swinging from your ceiling as we sit down to a quiet dinner for two tonight (we're gathering tomorrow).
--Sara J.
We, too, debated this for a VERY long time. You know what we decided... For what it's worth, we talked to several adoptees who told us that they'd recommend an American name first since their lives, esp. by the time they know their names, are American. That said, we kept Sam's Korean name as a second middle name. We can talk more if you care to hear more of our perspective. :-) Good luck!
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