Belgian boy salutes Canadian troops, gets recognition in return As they march together, soldiers use the command “Eyes Right!” to salute a foreign dignitary or a leader as a mark of respect. The U.S. Military has the following procedure … Continue reading
Tag Archives: Belgium
First name basis
23
The Filipino way, most people’s first name is Maria. There are so many Maria’s in our family, me included. However, we don’t use our first name. I use my second name. My only wish is I wish I wasn’t named Maria.
The trouble started not in my childhood. It started when I came to Canada.
The officers saw how long my name is, they started using Maria. Employers did the same thing, Maria. Well, I felt there is no use in contradicting them since they are having a hard time pronouncing the name.
When I say my second name, the common response is, Huh? How do you spell that? P as in Peter, E as in Eve, R as in Richard, P as in Peter (again), E as in Eve (again), T as in Tom, U as in Uranus, A as in Apple. Perpetua. What? Petula? Never mind, call me Maria. The names that I just called out, they understand, but not my name.
As for being Maria, oh the trouble I go. Maria seems to be a troubled name. People started singing “How do you solve a problem like Maria”. Sound’s familiar?
It was only in 2010 that I decided once and for all, I will use my name that I am accustomed to hearing. Perpetua it is. Again, my colleagues of 13 years, they kept on calling me Maria. Sorry, folks, I am not responding to that!
So here I am, as a Canadian Maria, signing and dancing to the Sound of Music.
This is in response to Daily Prompt: Childhood. Come and join us, it will make you sing.