Names

Instead of names like Mbayana, Naeku, Sang’orie, Kiepoy, Ndeeray, Neema, and Lepillal, I now have to learn names like Tshering, Garab, Kuenzang, Phuntsho, Ugyen, and Rabsel. In my homeroom alone, I have two Sonam Zangmos, distinguished by Sonam Zangmo “A” and Sonam Zangmo “B,” not to be confused with the female student who goes by just Sonam (no second name). There are also four girls named Deki, and four students named Karma, and three students with the second name Yangzom. The other tricky thing with Bhutanese names is that they are not gender specific. Sangay can be a female or male, as can the names Yeshi, Pema, and just about every other one; the only name that I haven’t found an opposite sex counterpart is Deki, which is a female name. You’d think that because there is less of a variety of names, it’d be easier, but that just means I have to memorize their first and second names. It’s going to be a tough year.