I am not good with jokes. Just trying to contribute to this thread.
One of the challenges of having a long ethnic name is that you need to spell it out letter by letter over the phone to the many health professionals who are trying to help you.
In my case it goes like,
S as in Sam, R as in Romeo, E as in Echo.............
If you think Sreekanth is a long first name, my last name is nineteen letters. And trust me, everyone wants me to spell it out fully. Some nurses still get the letters confused.
"Did you say F as in Fam, H as in Homeo???
So, I have devised a new technique.Now I use only medical terms.
S as in Stage 2, R as in Radiology, E as in Enema,
.. Works well with most health professionals on the other end of the phone.
The other day, I spelt out all 9 letters of my first ne, all 19 of my last name, took a sigh and told over phone.But you can call me Sree. The nurse at the other side responded:
"What ? Are you Free? When are you Free?"
"Oh no no. Not Free. Call me Sree, SREE"
"What, you are are a TREE??"
Thats when I had to say "Never mind dear, call me what you want.."
I am talking to my parents these days to have my last name shortened, just so that they do not feel offended