ng yan

Today our department administrator Misha walked by my desk. I like her because she likes Hello Kitty too and she's not ashamed to show it. In fact, she gave me a Hello Kitty accessory to add to my collection—a small mirror and drawstring bag. I carry it with me in my purse everywhere.

We are loud and proud Hello Kitty fans.

Misha spotted the bulletin board above my desk. In addition to some pretty pictures of my firm's projects, I had dutifully decorated it with Hello Kitty accents.

"You made your own name sign?" Misha pointed to the top corner of my bulletin board.

Everybody else in the office had an official name placard in the top left corner of their bulletin boards. Since I am only an "intern" (even though I am smarter and harder-working than all of them), I don't get a name tag. So I improvised. It says 吳欣儒.

"This is my Chinese name," I said. "How do you say it in Cantonese?"

"Ng Yan Yu," Misha proclaimed.

I furrowed my brow. "But…Wu Xin Ru," I said.

"Ng Yan Yu," Misha insisted firmly.

Ng Yan Yu. Wu Xin Ru. Wu Xin Ru > Ng Yan Yu

Mandarin > Cantonese