Tolochko-san

Naming conventions in Colombia are slightly different from what we're used to. Here, people have two first names and two last names. People also use their first two names interchangably - it's still unclear to me if there are any kinds of general trends. Whether pepole tend to use their first name with their family and close friends, their second first name at work/later in life, etc.

Either way, whenever Robin or I are waiting to be called into someone's office, we are almost always called by our middle names. My guess is that it's because, for a Colombian, Carol and Jack are easier to pronounce than Robin and Jerome.

Today though, something truly wonderful and Colombian happened to me. I showed up to the doctor's office, and after waiting for 30 minutes to be called into the office after my schedule 10:10 appointment time, asked the other people waiting around what was up. One woman looekd at my appointment slip and said that my name had already been called, but the doctor, unable to pronounce my name and convinced that my last name must be Japanese, just yelled out, "Chino! Chino? Chino!" Hence the confusion.