What's in a Name?..
3 days ago
- #nicknames
- #cultural adaptation
- #identity
- The author has a traditional Russian name from a folktale, which is often mispronounced in Australia as 'Alena'.
- Initially, the author didn't correct mispronunciations but later decided to reclaim her name as part of her identity.
- Sailing introduced new challenges; crew members struggled with her name and jokingly nicknamed her 'Dave', which stuck.
- Despite initial resistance, the author grew to accept 'Dave' as it made her feel accepted and part of the crew.
- The name 'Dave' is easier to pronounce during races, though the author sometimes wishes it were different.
- Suggestions for alternative spellings like 'Ulerna' or 'Alyona' were dismissed by the author.