1. What isyour full name please?
I’m Tang Xiaojiao, but you can call me Jenny. That is myEnglish name and I chose it a long time ago.
2. How doI spell your last name please?
(Last name = surname = family name. Be careful!) It’sTang, T A-N-G.
3. Doesyour Chinese name have a special meaning?
Yes, it does. My first name Xiaojiao means “littlecrying.”,guess that when,was a baby I used to be pretty loud. My parents chose to call me Xin Zhang, and it’s a prettycommon name. Xin means “heart” and Zhang means "articles", you know,“essays.” My folks ( = parents) wanted me to be smart and well-read, you know,knowledgeable. They put a lot of pressure on myshoulders with thisname. My name is Yaning.Ya means that I am the second child ofthe family, and Ning means “silence. ” I guess that when I was a child I usedto be very calm.
4. Do youlike your name?
And will you change it in the future? I quite like my name, Xiaojiao, and there is no need forme to change it. My name is very unique. I don’t think that anyone else inChina was ever given the same first name. My father really wanted to beoriginal. My name is who I am. It’s part of my identity, and it’s meaningful tome. I like my name because of its meaning, and I wouldn’tchange it for the world. Although my name is very common in China, I got usedto being called Yaning, and changing my name now would just .be weird (=strange).
5. Why dosome people change their names?
Well, most probably because they simply dislike them.They might not be happy with the way they sound. Actually, I have heard of somepeople who have changed their names because they did not match their feng shui, you know,the belief that you can receive positive energy from different things.It’s an ancientChinese thing. In my country, a name could bring you good fortune. It’s allabout destiny. Personally, I have never met anyone who has changed their name,only in movies when some people need to create a new identity for themselves,or a new life to escape from a horrible situation in their past.
6. Verygood, thank you. Miss Tang, when were you born?
I was born in 1991.My birthday is onDecember the 3`d. This year I am turning 20.
7. Tell mea few things about yourself.
Okay, no problem. I was born in a small town in FujianProvince, about 300 kilometers north of Fuzhou. I was raised there until theage of 18 when I moved to Fuzhou to attend university. I am currently studyingaccounting, and I have another two years to go beforeI get a Bachelor’sdegree. I am sitting in front of you today because I intend to continuemy studiesin Australia, possibly next year. As far as my hobbies go, I like listening tomusic andexercising.I enjoy jogging and playing badminton with friends.I am a littleshydepending on the situation, but I can also be very talkative when I hang outwith my classmates. TRY TO USE: I have been studyingat university for two years. I have been living in Fuzhou for 3 years now.I have beenworking in the same company for 6 years now.I have beenstudying English for along time, even though I don’t often get a chance topractice my speaking.
8. Whatwould your friends say about you if 1 asked them? (for a girl)
Ha!That’s a good question; I should ask them. I believe myfriends would say that I am considerate and sweet. I consider myself a kindperson. I think that most of the people who know me would say that I am aresponsible student who works hard to get what she wants. They would probablyalso add that I should relax more instead of being so careful with everythingall the time. I am quite meticulous.
9. Whatwould you like to change about your personality?
I definitely stress too much. I always worry too muchabout stuff. At school, I getvery tense before the exams. Today in front of you I havesweaty hangs hands and a Knot in my stomach. I always want to do well so Isuppose I put pressure on myself. It’s quite commonin China. Inaddition,I would like to be able to react faster, to be more quick-minded. Sometimes I am tooslow; I always think of a good thing to say too late.
10. Do youhave any regrets about the past?
Yes, definitely. Who doesn’t? I should have studiedharder in high school to get into a better university. I should have arrangedmy schedule in a different way. I think I was not efficient enough at the time.In addition, a few years ago, my grandfather passed away. I was only 15, and Inever really asked him any questions about his youth, or other things heexperienced. I wasn’t curious enough when he was alive. That’s one of my mainregrets.
11.Would you say that you look and actmore like your father or your mother?
Well, people say I really look like my mother. We’ve got the same eyes andlips. But in terms of personality, I think I am a lot more like myDad. We are both very calm and patient. We like things to be done well, whereason the other hand, my mother is more energetic and impulsive(=spontaneous).I am a mix, acombination of the two of them. Unfortunately, I inherited my father’s shyness.You know, in today’s world, being shy is not always an advantage.
12. Do youhave any bad habits?
It’s your turn to answer!(Eating junk food,spitting, arriving late, smoking, going to bed late, being addicted to computer games...)