How important might it be for me to adopt a local name? 

Unless you find yourself in a very diverse community where people celebrate using names from all sorts of languages and cultures, you might do very well to be name-nimble.

Take on a local alias and go by it consistently when in that cultural context. 

Yes, this can be controversial! But note, I didn’t say to push others to pick an easily grasped name in your home culture! Rather we’re talking about you adapting to honor others! Leave other people alone about their names. 

When we moved to Indonesia we encountered some hilarious name hurdles. My friend working with poor villagers was named Dana–which in Bahasa Indonesia means “Mr. Capital”–as n $$$!  

We observed (we didn’t suggest it) that wisely Dana took on the local name Pak (Mr.) Dono. 

I made a mistake early one. I polled a number of my new local friends about what my name should be in their culture. They all vehemently disagreed. To choose would have been to alienate friends. I opted to just go by Pak Dave. 

No one could seem to pronounce it anywhere near right, and when someone would right my name it would come out as “Dep.” Curious! Why that? 

A random search for something in a dictionary turned on the lights for me. “Daif” the nearest local word to how Dave would be pronounced–means a very sorry, impoverished person, lacking in capability or common sense. My local friends were trying to spare me shame by not calling me Pak Daif! That’s awkward–for them!

Work changes forced our family to move to a new province where nearly no one knew us. Here was a great opportunity to recreate our identity into something more effective in the culture. 

In local religious stories King David is rendered as Daud. I introduced myself as Pak Daud, and soon became known all over by this name that locals seemed to really enjoy using of me. 

It’s not an absolute game changer, but clearly people in my host culture like my identity better than they used to, and that brings some satisfaction to my CQ heart. 

Consider finding a local name that you will enjoy being your new name!