I always knew that Indian names were difficult for others to remember, pronounce… But, this trip takes the cake. Ive been called everything from Aparna to Aparma to Apahna to Apahma to Apna to Parna to Pahma to Parma… To make life simple, I decided to come up with some unique ways in which Brazilians (and others) can remember my name.

Normal situation –

Person I meet: Como voce chama? Sua nome? (What is your name or how to you call yourself)
Normal reply: Aparna, e voce (Aparna, and you?)

Current situation –

Person I meet: Como voce chama? Sua nome? (What is your name or how to you call yourself)

If its a Brazilian, I point to my legs and say – Aparna. Como A Perna (A perna means legs in Portugese)

ou (or)

If its someone from another part of the world (and Brazilans too) – Apu, Como Apu de Simpsons (Referring to the character from Simpsons)

Still if they dont remember, I say – Depois de tudo, si voce nao lembra meu nome, eu posso dicer o significado do meu nome. Significa Paciencia. Nao e obvio? Estou dando uma longa explicacao para uma simples pergunta ‘como voce chama’. Nao tem jeito de voce esquecer meu nome agora.

(After all this, if you cannot remember my name, I can tell you the significance of my name. Means Patience. Isn’t it obvious? I am giving you such a detailed explanation for a simple question what is your name? There is no way you are going to forget my name now.)

Anyway, like I said earlier… they never remember. And they just call me ‘Hey Indiana’.

So, this is the journey of ‘Indiana not Jones in the Paradise of Brazil’.