A New Me
Posted: March 29, 2011 Filed under: Memoirs | Tags: Charlotte, Dutch, English, Names, Sharlette, US 8 Comments »This move to the US has really changed me…
New BFF: “It’s so nice to meet you. What did you say your name is?”
Me: “Charlotte.”
New BFF: “Say again?”
Me: “Sshhaaarlut!”
New BFF: “Sharlette?”
Me (deciding we are not going to be BFF’s after all): “Yes.”
I may need speech therapy or the dentist to fix the gap between my teeth, but at least in The Netherlands I was able to pronounce my own name.
One time, at the playground, a mom managed to ask me to repeat my name seven times. I don’t even remember if she finally got it right, or that we left it at Sharlette.
Picking a name for our girls, my first requirement was for it to be pronounced the same way in Dutch as in English. I didn’t want my children to go through what I’m going through.
And now, with ‘Pippa and the Kids’, I can tell everyone in my new country about it and be sure I’ll get some hits…
Hahaha – try pronouncing Frederiek in English en dat het dan niet klinkt als Frederick… Ofwel dat je een opmerking krijgt als:”I thought that was a boys name!”
Helemaal mee eens dat een naam in Engels en NLs hetzelfde moet kunnen worden uitgesproken, en dat is bij jullie meiden gelukt! Plus het zijn nog eens super leuke namen ook (en die meiden mogen er ook wezen
)
Liefs Frederiekaah
OK Frederiekaatje, so you’re just unfortunate to have a name that doesn’t exist in Englishland.
Charlotte though… Who doesn’t know this name in New York City, after all these SATC episodes and movies. That’s just embarrassing!
Ha,ha,ha! Love reading your blog sweetie..
Thanks Emma. You know you’re my inspiration!
btw, I need to book my ticket!!
First, I love your blog and can’t wait to read it each day.
It is truly annoying but I fear it may be a losing battle here in the states. Either way…it’s a beautiful name – having said that, you won’t catch me saying Shharrlet, Sharlotte!!!!
Thank you Kelly
Hahaha Tsjarlut,
How can they not know or pronounce your name!!??
They even have a city called Charlotte.
X
That’s why it’s so embarrassing!