what's in a name?

that which we call a chili by any other name would smell as spicy.

The following is a compiled list I attempted to keep during my 10 months in Thailand of names that made me smile or puzzled me, some that made me chuckle when I would go back and think of them later and others that just plain had me doubled over the second I heard them. I'd like to say I was laughing with the people, although I'm not sure some would have got the joke...

These are nicknames that people use as opposed to their formal names. They are used almost all the time and nearly everyone has one.

Pancake
Jedi
Smile
Tiger & Lion (brothers)
Milk
Sing Sing
Oil
Pooh
Sea game
Santa
Pop
Pun
Bang
IQ
Beer
Freshie
Meow
Bird
Guy
Champoo (like 'shampoo')
Kangaroo
Moo
Sigh
No
Ice
Porn (more common than you would think)
On
Off
Get
New
Bong
Ant
A
Fang
Apple
Corn
Big
Little
Um
Ugly
Water
Gift
Saint
Poo Poo
Gun
Pipe
Film
Focus
Shogun
Bank
North

It's quite funny to have to call a student Santa or to attempt to address someone as Pancake without grinning. Although I wouldn't beckon Poo Poo as much as I would request Beer, all these names are an example of why I love Thai people so incredibly much! :)

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