On Names

I received an invitation to view some wedding pictures of one of friends.  The pictures themselves were nice, but not remarkable.  What caught my eye was his name: Zeus.  He also introduced his wife with her English name – thankfully, it was not Hera. This feels wrong in so many ways…My friend works in a Chinese domestic company, and as far as I know, does not need to have contact with foreigners.  I don’t know why it is necessary to have a name in English; and if one day he does need an English name, who would name himself after the Greek king of the gods?      

 

Now I feel a bit odd signing my reply with my Chinese name, as I have no English name.  I told people whenever they ask that I just like the name my parents gave me.   The age difference between my friend and I is only a few years; but I am afraid my concept of heritage lags him quite a bit.