My Chinese Name

by Mimi Say

One day, while I was going around overseeing how my children are doing in the classrooms, Lim Jaywin jumped at me excitedly.

Lim Jaywin (on the left)

"Mrs. Say I know your chinese name."
"Oh, really?" I wondered.  Even my teachers do not know my chinese name. They are 'Hui' (Wisdom) and 'Mei' (Beautiful). I guess my mum desperately do not want a slow ugly child.
"What is my chinese name then?" I asked curiously.
"Your chinese name is 'Xiao Zhang'!" replied the boy confidently. That answer left me dumbfounded.
I left the room laughing.
*Xiao Zhang is the direct translation of headmistress.