The Pizzazzy

The other day I was introduced to a colleague of mine, he looked at me with this peculiar expression which reads “Are you sure you are the one?” Aloud he says “Oh! By your name I thought you were a man”

In India something which is so obvious is so not-obvious here. But can’t blame them, cos I am equally at loss when it comes to figuring out the gender by the name specifically foreign names. But I can do better than that even when someone I assumed was a Male turns out to be Female. I can act not shocked at least.

Another incidence happened a few years back when I was taking over the Client of a colleague, so when I was introduced over a mail, my new contact very politely asked my colleague whether I am a he or a she. Only thing I was on the Cc list.

It’s always good to know the popular names of both the genders of any country and interesting too. My basic Japanese language gives me a fair idea about female names and male names. But most of the times the first name culture prevalent in IT industry acts as the savior and one can address colleagues or clients directly by their first names.

I am reminded of another introduction session where this new colleague got so excited on being introduced to me and when he was told that I am from India, leaving the project to be discussed he cut in to what our colleague was saying and asked me “Which part of India are you from?” As if he is going to know if I tell him Manipur to avoid further grilling on the topic I simply replied Pune which is partly true and well known as my client is running its offshore services from there. But he goes on saying “I thought you were a Singaporean!” So after the name they attack my looks. Thank you Sir, although I love Singapore, I am proud to be an Indian.

A Japanese friend once asked me very seriously “You look Asian” So I replied “Yes, I am Asian” and she emphasizes “No I mean Asian Asian” so I also emphasized my origin “Yes, I am Asian Asian” India is very much in Asia right.

Since I am from the North Eastern part of India, I tend to look more like Singaporean. So, when I am really lazy to assert my identity I quietly merge with the crowd. And honestly many times I have enjoyed the speculations on my origin and equally enjoyed the shock.

PS: For some name related information based on origin visit bestforbabynames.