Shu Ju vs Diana

It's one funny story.

My Chinese name is Shu Ju, but right now I go by Diana.

It all started the first day in the English class when I was given the name. I still remember it vivdly when my teacher explained to me the importance of the name. That was the year when the name made it to the British Royal family and became world famous. It's normal that a person goes by an English name when they started studying English and carry that into work, especially if working in a foreign company. All my friends, classmates and colleagues know me as Diana and I have been fine with it for quite a long time until I went to UT Austin for my graduate study. It was my first experience living in a western country and somehow I felt it important to insist on my heritage, like going by my Chinese name. As you know, I had gone through a painful process teaching people to say my name correct. Neither is it fun explaining the five different tones for each character not is trying to pronounce the raising tones for both characters that my name is composed of. However, no one was too frustrated to give up. Therefore, my new identify in US has been established and Shu Ju is recognized in the two years I spent in Austin.

An interesting incident happened when I went back home after I finished my study. It is in fact very much a paradox. One day a friend from Austin called me at home trying to confirm my office phone number. He said he couldn't get through to me when he tried the number and was told that there was not such a person. I confirmed that he had the correct number and wasn't sure why he couldn't get through to me? Wondering for a few seconds and then it hit. I knew what happened and had a good laugh. My friend called the office asking for Shu Ju with his funny pronunciation and tone where I was recognized as Diana. That's the main reason why he didn't get through. Imagine this, my English speaking friends go by my Chinese name while friends, family and colleagues, mostly speaking Chinese, go by my English name. That is one funny situation, isn't it? In order for this not to happen again, one critical decision was made and two worlds synchronized into one. No more discrepancy and life becomes easy. The answer is simple, Diana it is!