Baguio - My name means

I changed my listening class as my new schedule. Actually, I wanna register Joseph's class but his class was full student and I didn't have any choice. In new class, there was a Vietnamese student who I saw several times at luch time but she had never joined in Vietnamese student group and I thought she was Korean or Chinese. She's more beautiful and younger than me. Her English name is Jade nearly same my name Jane. She was very closed with the remain 2 Korean guys. They were always kidding together and sometime teacher joined in. They were also often late every morning and sometime we had to wait Jade with the unique reason was she couldn't sleep last night or her roommates kept the rest room too long for her to use before class hour was coming. Anyway, I remained only 13 days in there and every day passed means 50$ passed along with, they were really my big deal than her late.

Jimmy's class that was a pronounciation class made me feel waste money and time. I was looking forward to his guiding about pronounciation correctly or some tips to improve my speaking at least. He nearly didn't correct my pronounciation except from "abou-t" word. And he always asked a list of boring questions. Jimmy also complainted me "Jane, you are lazy. You answer shortly. I want you think more and give me detailed or long answer. Because your course is Power Speaking so you should talk more than me. You speak 70%, I speak 30%". That day he asked me about role model. I say my role model is Hilary Clinton and Michell Obama while his role model is Donald Trump. So there is an unexpected conflict as if we are both American citizens and choosing our president. Talking about America, about politics is my favourite topics so I reached 80% of speaking that day, over his goal put for me. Jimmy wanna stop me "Ok, Jane. We talk about this matter a lot. But Trump is very smart, he can change American that Hilary can not do. That's why Hilary can't be an American President". I couldn't do anything and laughed. This was the first time I could discuss about the politic matter publicly and my teacher was really a consistent controversialist. That day I enjoyed in Jimmy's class.  

6:30pm, we were leaving Academy to go back Queendom by school bus. Suddenly, David asked me about my father's job? Other students, Naru and I were very surprised and we laughed loudly. Well, it's true my father is a farmer but I didn't know why he was curious about my father's job so I answered "he opens a small store", my parents cook and sell traditional rice wine, I emphasized it's very small, not really a store. David was still meeting difficulty to speak English fluently, he found words in online dictionary and talked to me everytime so I always highly appreciated his effords. We were batchmate and became friends naturally. Frankly, his charater was very comfortable and I like him. I am younger than him, maybe 20 years old but he looks younger than his age and I didn't find we had age space. After I answered, he laughed and asked

- Really? I think your dad is an army.

- Why? - I shocked

- Why? Jan ni (He always can't call me correctly), because you are confidence, always smile and be active. I think maybe your father is an army and you are under your father's personal influence.

Other students were in behind seat so I didn't know their reaction but Naru and I laughed on the floor. Actually, I couldn't believe in what I heard. From I was in high school, my friends always told me that I was a difficult and unfriendly person. They said I was not easy to close. My mother thought the same and she often complainted about my attitude. Somebody said my face always looked sad and serious like if I joined in a funny party, I would break funny asmotphere in there. I didn't remember what I did to make a good impression on David. I couldn't stop my mouth laugh. I was happy at that moment.

He continued "what means your Vietnamese name?". Well, he touched my weakness. I recalled when I still worked with my co-worker 4 years ago, she laughed at me and asked why my parent put me this name. If their name means of river, cloudy, blue sky, flower, intelligent,... My name, it's not a beautiful or popular name and it's important that it doesn't mean anything. In my age, especially in country side, middle name is often "Thi" for a girl and is "Van" for a boy. Nowadays this habit are changing, many people use another words to create beautiful names or have special mean. If I had another word for my middle name, it might bring meanings. I was very shy when someone asked me my name. I knew their expression in general, firstly show surprised and laugh later. From went to Baguio, I could use my English name so I didn't bother a lot this matter until David asked me. In seconds I thought, well, although I had popular English name - Jane, David always called me wrong name - Jan-ni. Maybe in his mind, name was only to distinguish between this person and other persons. He remembered me as a friendly, humour, open, and close person. I smiled with him.

- My name means confidence and happy.

- Really? - David and Naru asked nearly same time

- Yes - I confirmed

#ThankyouDavidtoteachmeaboutmeaningofmyname

Pic from Internet source