Yuohmawcooshi Rhyeiquoh

 My name story is really boring so i'll spare you a boring read by telling you how it was having a Japanese name in America.

In one word it would be described as interesting. 

Interesting is such a vague word don't you think? It can be interpreted as good or bad and you'll never know which one it would be unless you elaborate further. Anyways where should I start…

Ah, for starters I can relate with Noyu. 

Having people pronounce my name right was always a pain. Even some of my closest friends still pronounce it wrong because I just stopped correcting people. They would call me “RayKo” or “Lei-ii-kou” no matter how many times I would say that you pronounce it like “lake-o” 

People would find it unique, and honestly, I thought that was nice but at the same time I'm Japanese, and it's a Japanese name. The name Yamaguchi was widely known because there was a famous Olympic figure skater named Kristi Yamaguchi. People would ask me all the time if I was related to her because they thought it was such a rare name and I was a mischievous little brat and would say yes, because what's the fun in saying no. There are so many people who think they have met Kristi Yamaguchi’s cousin at a YMCA pool in the suburbs of Newyork. 

In America, they love to take your name instead of numbers when you order foods and when I say I despised it I absolutely wanted to destroy that system after this one particular incident. 

Now…I want you to Imagine being an 11-year-old in a busy Taco bell on a weekend ordering for your family because your mom hated speaking English, you go up to the counter like you have done many times before, EASY,  finish ordering and they ask for your name, you reply over the busy noise in the background,

 “Reiko”.

 They smile ( was that a snicker?) and say thank you. You wait patiently on the side as they get ready for your order. You see the employee packing your food into the bag and about to call your name so you step up. Then, on the intercom and from the movement from the employee's mouth you see and hear them say and mouth the word  

“LEGO?!?!” 

I was that 11-year old stood there completely frozen. The once loud background turned silent. I had to walk all the way to the counter and retrieve the bag as a girl named lego. 

I have so many more stories but i'll shut up now because I just relived trauma.