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Post by Rivka P on May 26, 2009 12:02:24 GMT -5
I have been using my English name at work. Mostly because it's easier because it's on all my legal paperwork. So, at work I am Tara and at home I am Rivka.
Can anyone else relate?
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Post by medic09 on May 26, 2009 15:27:31 GMT -5
My wife does something similar. Her Hebrew names are also a little harder for the American tongue to pronounce.
I have only a Hebrew name on licenses, etc. The problem is that Mordechai gets edited into things one might never imagine! I don't use nicknames, so that limits the possibilities. When a patient says 'what is your name again?', I lift up my badge and show it to them while restating my name.
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Post by achot on May 26, 2009 23:46:46 GMT -5
I think that is a sign of the times, today it is more accepted to have ethnic and exotic names, even names from the opposite gender. When I was born (in the ice age) my parents gave me a jewish name and a secular name- unfortunately they put the secular one on my birth certificate and the jewish name was given to me in shule with brachot by a Rav- it is a difficult existence. I tried to make an alias so I can use my jewish name exclusively and the process was too long and tenuous. When I made Aliya, I combined the names so my Teudat Zehut reads my jewish and secular name- this has made things a bit easier! I wouldn't do that to my kids- give em jewish names and be PROUD!
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Post by Rivka P on May 27, 2009 0:09:38 GMT -5
We made sure to put my daughter's Hebrew name on her birth certificate so she wouldn't have to go through what we did. It reads Laya Ora, plain and simple.
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Post by achot on May 27, 2009 0:16:51 GMT -5
Good for you, You wrote in another post (Head Coverings) that they are into being culturally diverse at your place of work, Wouldnt you prefer that they call you Rivka at work, it isn't hard to say...like my name is with the CH (and even in the states I worked always with me CH name). I bet they would respect your wishes. BTW How is the new job ( and beret) coming along?
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Post by Rivka P on May 31, 2009 22:16:51 GMT -5
I don't know if I would prefer to be called Rivka. Frankly, it's only awkward when I do happen to have a frum patient, and I tell them to please call me Rivka, it feels more normal. I did use Tara until I was 10 or 11 years old, so it isn't weird being called Tara. Now I have been on the floor for about a month, I think it would be weird to change my name. Also, another new nurse is named Risha. She is from India. People have been calling me Risha just because we're both new. If I went by Rivka, we're definitely get mixed up! The new job has been coming along quite well. I have actually been wearing a shaitel lately that I kind of had turned into a headband fall. People practically don't believe it's a wig. Sometimes I throw on a hat or scarf, if I am running late and I have no time to patchke, and that's been accepted fine too.
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cganz1
New Member
Tamid B'Simcha!
Posts: 27
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Post by cganz1 on May 31, 2009 22:51:08 GMT -5
I always introduce myself as Chani, but I have come to notice that (most) people don't even notice that I am saying anything different. They automatically say " Oh Hi Connie". I have realized that they don't even hear that I'm not saying Connie. The questions only start when they see my name written. Then I get called all sorts of strange variations such as China! A few people have asked me why I spell Connie so weird It doesn't bother me when I'm called Connie, I have told some patients & fellow classmates or instructors that it's fine if they call me Connie since they have a hard time pronouncing my name properly. The funniest part is when they try to say my name correctly and usually wind up having a spitting contest of sorts One fellow student nurse actually called me Chani and then I found out she was from Germany, that's why she was able to say it right. B"H I'm proud of my Jewish name and I hope I will continue to introduce myself as Chani, although it's okay if others can't pronounce it right. I actually had an instructor who thought my real name was Connie since that's what she always called me until one day she couldn't find my name on the class list!!! My oldest brother is the only one in my family with an English name, cuz after that my mother realized that there are so many other people with strange hard to pronounce names and there is no reason not to legally use a Hebrew name. It also saves us from a lot of identity confusion. My mother was actually told that she couldn't sign my passport as my mother because my birth certificate had her Hebrew name and hers has her English name. The clerk said that she couldn't prove she was my mother :
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Post by achot on May 31, 2009 23:31:07 GMT -5
Chani, that is hysterical....:-)
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lazer
New Member
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Post by lazer on Jun 3, 2009 6:04:26 GMT -5
When I used to work as a computer programmer in aerospace in the '80s I used my English name Lester. After a few months I told my co-workers, "My friends call my Lazer" and they all loved the techie sound of it! Now, I introduce myself as "Lazer - short for Eli-ayzer (which is how many pronounce Eliezer in English)...just like eye surgery." BTW, some years back my wife and I changed our names in the White Pages to Lazer and Tova because nobody could find us under Lester and Susan. We also have our legal names on our checks followed by our Hebrew names in parentheses.
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nurse
New Member
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Post by nurse on Jun 4, 2009 10:16:17 GMT -5
My mother gave me two Hebrew names: Sarah Gitty. I go by my second name but Sarah is on my birth certificate and I use it during clinical because people have a hard time pronouncing Gitty. Instead they say Giddy. However people become confused sometimes when frum people address me as Gitty and as I'm talking to them another person comes and calls me Sarah.
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Post by Rivka P on Jun 6, 2009 21:56:25 GMT -5
Gitty, I have experienced the same confusion when switching between Rivka and Tara (as you may already know) ;-)
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Post by Rivka P on Jun 11, 2009 1:28:23 GMT -5
I am considering "friending" some co-workers on facebook, but my name is Rivka on there. I'm confuse them too much if I don't change it. Hmmm what to do...
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Post by achot on Jun 11, 2009 5:26:50 GMT -5
I dont think it is a good idea to befriend your coworkers on your facebook. What have you to gain? If there is ever a problem at work your personal info can be used against you. You are still new, take some more time to read them first. If you get close enuf to invite them to your facebook then what name is there will not be an issue
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chanab
Junior Member
Posts: 64
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Post by chanab on Jun 30, 2009 8:04:51 GMT -5
Haha! This topic was entertaining to begin with since I am Hannah & Chana, but your facebook commment just made it even funnier! My legal name is Hannah and I actually went by it until I got to high school and switched, with mixed responses from people who had known me. Then, just when I got people calling me Chana as I preferred, I became Hannah for all my school and work things! I stick with Hannah at work b/c it's less confusing for people, but now I find myself using Hannah when I yell at myself, so I have to work on that whole identity confusion thing again. Now unfortunately with a name like Hannah, people come up with all kinds of nicknames. My absolute least favorite being a popular media character! ::shudder:: When they started with that I told one of our NP's she had to come up with a different nickname, and now she calls me Birdie (my middle name is actually legally Tziporah). I'm ok with that one, makes me think of my 2nd grade rebbe. Then of course I started friending my co workers on FB. It was difficult at first to explain how to locate me, but I'm pretty forward about my Jewish identity (with my co workers at least, not with pts as much unless directly asked), and now I even have one co worker who sometimes calls me Chana since he seems proud of himself that he can actually say it correctly. And as for friending co workers on FB, good for networking and as long as you don't have anything you'd be ashamed to have your mother see on there, you should be fine!
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Post by achot on Jun 30, 2009 16:32:44 GMT -5
Funny Chana, or Birdie or whatever- just dont call me late to dinner right- or ...just get my name right on my paycheck I still dont think its a good idea to befriend coworkers on facebook- make sure you hide anything that you wouldn't want shared (there is a button for that and can hide all posts by certain people) make sure you dont gripe about work or coworkers or write anything that can haunt you... I still dont like to mix my private and professional life. I don't see what there is to gain. As to networking - we are nurses not Avon salespeople- our best networking comes from doing a good job, treating everyone nicely and being professional. Do that and the word will get around, no need to sell ourselves. Definitely compliment your coworker who goes to the trouble of pronouncing your name right and others will follow- If you dont like being called Hannah M******* just ignor them or say, "Boy, I wish I had her salary!!!"
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