English Name example essay topic

Macao, situated in the south sea of China, though geographically very close to Guangzhou and Hong Kong, the culture varies due to the different historical development. Macao, having been a colony of Portugal for 450 years, and geographically being stuck in the middle of these two places, people are quite lost, searching for their identity throughout the years. What varies Macao from other places is basically the matter of language and economic prosperity. In this paper, I am going to write about the experience of living in-between in these ten years, especially the changes before and after the handover. Ten years ago, we people living in Macao always felt a sense of superiority. We were happy to enjoy our unique status and the freedom of expression.

Remembering the days when my family went to visit our relatives in China, they were always expecting us with souvenirs, which they could not afford to buy or no ways to buy in the mainland China. They were happy to see us and they admired us that we could move around without any restrictions. At that period of time, if they wanted to go to Hong Kong or Macao, it would take them around two years to apply for the visa and several hundreds are charged. They admired our English capability, seems like they were actually admiring the western world. Whenever I was in a bookstore looking at shelves for English books, people were looking at me. People admired us speaking pure Cantonese, as they were so much fantasized by the Hong Kong media.

However when we were meeting the Portuguese people, it was another different feeling. They are tall and they speak Portuguese, which we Macao people regarded as a symbolism for government high-paid jobs and power. Macao people work fast and they are slow (a way to enjoy life). Macao people did not eager to say a word to offend them.

There was always a conflict deep, deep inside. Macao people went to study Portuguese at nighttime (because learning Portuguese is not coercive by the government, unlike Hong Kong), hoping they could get an opportunity to work for governments, which are regarded as stable and permanent and get the same status as the Portuguese. It is a suffocating experience to live in-between culture. I am looking for my own identity but it is not easy.

People gradually ignore it they go into a world of materialism. Things are changing. It is already the age of 2001. Hong Kong and Macao have already returned to China respectively.

But do things change? Macao people are happy about the handover, as the crimes were so serious and never in control when Macao was still governed by the Portugal. Now Macao is part of China but still we look at it as an independent economy. Youngsters are worried, as the government cannot give us a clear future. They suggest us to seek for jobs in China, where culture is so different.

Sigh! We are lost! We are searching for our own identity. I have been twice asked by the U.S. custom. The official said, "Macao is already back to China. How come you " re holding a Portuguese passport?

Do you see yourself as a Portuguese or Chinese? Don't you feel ashamed?" I said I considered it as a traveling document, no ways to ruining my identity. Though I replied him this way, I have been constantly thinking my identity. After handover, some Portuguese have left with their superiority. The situation turns upside down. Now, they learn our language, to keep them a post in the government offices.

Besides Portuguese language, English as a worldwide language is also something we take much notice of. After I graduated from my primary school, I decided to go to an English high school. At the age of eleven, we small kids have already known the impact of English, though with no much reasoning, or it might be influenced by parents and senior people. We regard English and Portuguese as a tool to earn more money and gradually abandon the ability of our Chinese language. The "in-between" experience sometimes does makes us confused. I studied British English when I was in high school and got to change to American English as I went to university.

It is not easy for us to distinguish American English from British ones. I remember being laughed by American students when naming "erasers" as "rubbers" which they have another meaning, and naming "cafeteria" as "canteen". This is what we come across living in a colonial society. Not only our accent is in between, our vocabulary is the same case.

Having an English name is another thing that surprised people. People outside the world do not understand why we have an English name and not using our real Chinese names to address ourselves. We did not intentionally have one, but to go to English schools, it is a must. So at the age of eleven, I just picked up one from the dictionary without knowing the proper pronunciation.

When my teacher called out my name in class, I made no response. Only when I went to the States, did I know it is an American name. My honest American friends told me that "Agnes" is a Grandma name. It is outdated and young people do not use this name anymore.

Students who went to Portuguese schools have Portuguese names. Again this puzzles people. Having an English name or a Portuguese name does make us uncomfortable sometimes, especially when we address our other names to people in the mainland China. They could not figure it out why and in some ways look down upon us due to our vague identity.

I did care about my identity in the past years. It came natural to me at this stage. The fact that I am from Macao forms this particular culture to us..