Recently, while eating at one of my new favorites on Via Garibaldi, I had a lovely little conversation with one of the owners. Towards the end of our chat, I introduced myself with "My name is Karen". He says "Nice to meet you, Carol." I wasn't surprised, that's a very common response here. No one can pronounce Karen. I repeated my name to him a second time, to which he replied, " Yes, Carolina, like my girlfriend's name." At that point I gave it up as a lost cause and went back to eating my meal.
Two days later, at the same little place, the same man greeted me with "Ciao, Carol." I just grinned and gave him a "ciao" back.
I routinely get the "Ciao, Carol" all over town. I suppose I should just be happy to be acknowledged. It's not their fault they can't pronounce Karen. It's all my mother's fault for not giving me an Italian name!
My mother, Giuliana (now isn't that a beautiful Italian name?) was born and raised in Italy. She moved to the US when she was 19 after marrying my father, who was an American soldier stationed in Naples during the end of WWII. When my mother had us kids, she named us American names so we would fit in. Charlotte, Karen, Denise and Charles could have been Carlotta, Camilla, Daniela and Carlo, but no, we had to have American names!
And so I suffer with most people not being able to say my name. I'd even answer to "Hey, you", I think.
PS. Mom- I really just want to fit in now! Is it ok with you if I change my name to Camilla, or Carmella, or Carolina?
