As I have traveled this year, the most important thing I have learned is…. it’s hard to pronounce my name. Haha
So here is a list of some the names I have been called this year! Enjoy!
Ri – a nickname I’ve had for years that has carried over.
Blue hair – I had blue hair and they couldn’t say my name.
Azule – Spanish for blue because I had blue hair.
Elsa – because I had blue hair…again haha and then I had to sing let it go dressed as Elsa at a children’s event.
Riles – teammates call me this.
Friday – what some people heard when I said Riley.
Mzungu (white person in Swahili) – everyone had this name. Children would scream this at us and come running to say hi and give high fives.
Africa name: Larry – this one has stuck thanks to our host in Rwanda. Some of my squad mates even call me Larry still. I consider it my race name.
Rwandan name: ingabire (Devine gift) – our Rwandan host family gave us all names.
Railey – what some people heard as I tried to sound out my name.
Kenyan name: Laeli (ri-a-lee) -what they were actually saying when I heard Railey.
Lee – easier than saying Riley in SE Asia.
Khmer name: Bopaa (beautiful like flower) – our students gave us all Khmer names in Cambodia.
Reely (really) – Again, what some people heard when I said Riley. Haha
Leelee – I’m not sure how they heard this when I said Riley but I’ll take it.
It’s been an interesting year with my name. Mom and Dad, I love my name but I’m not sure how many people actually know it. Haha
