Another one-name post

[notuninvisible.livejournal.com]

I feel like I should post more lists and less just one name at a time, but today in Starbucks the woman in front of me was named Uiyula. (Ou-ee-you-la). And then on that cheesy little map they have where you can stick a pin on where in the world you're from, she put hers in Alaska. So I Googled it, and as I thought, it's Native American. Specifically, it's Inupiaq for whirlwind.

The cockles of my heart are always warmed by Native Americans who have untranslated names. But the workers in the aforementioned Starbucks whined about it not being a real name and being really hard to say, which surprised me because firstly, it IS a real name, and secondly... it's not that hard for me to pronounce. But that might just be me.

Thoughts?

Comments

[quinnthevixen.livejournal.com]

I'm with you, I love that her name is untranslated. Plus she could have the nickname Ou-we, which is kind of cool! Oh, and those people at Starbucks are lazy, it's not that hard to say.

[laminy.livejournal.com]

I think it's great.

[joereaves.livejournal.com]

Regardless of whether it's a real name or not, why would someone whine about it in front of her? OMG how rude. And the fact that she was their customer makes it worse too.

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

Pronouncing it out and reading it again, it's really not that hard, there's not even a reason to translate it, it's said like it sounds! And the whole "it's not a real name" What an American way of thinking D:

[satunian.livejournal.com]

When a customer orders a drink, they're required as part of the customer service thing, to0 go through a spiel, including upselling an item that you probably don't want and asking for a name to put on the drink. Asking for a name A) allows the customer to feel "personally welcome" (or so Starbucks thinks) B) ensures the customer gets the drink they ordered, especially in times where you're making 20 different drinks for 20 different people who are all standing around not paying attention anyway, and what should happen but Jane picks up Joe's extra sweet with whip caramel macchiato and goes into a tirade on the barista saying "THIS ISN'T THE SUGAR FREE SKINNY VANILLA LATTE I ORDERED" while the barista is thinking "I know, because that drink WASN'T FOR YOU, moron" and C) also discourages shrink from customers because once they reveal a name to go with the face, suddenly it seems the employees are way more aware of you. Though generally that only discourages people already uneasy about theft.

It's a policy many other food and beverage service places employ as well, especially when you don't have servers bringing food to you.

[tokossel.livejournal.com]

I'm surprised at the names people here seem to find difficult to pronounce! I really like, but I then I like the 'ula' sound, hehe.

[cremepuff.livejournal.com]

Hard to pronounce or not, those Starbucks baristas were rude to say that in front of her.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

as a former Starbucks barista I want to yell at those idiots and tell them you don't say that to customers!

I think, while the name is not something I'd use, it's really cool sounding, and I also like that it's a unique and cultural name with meaning (and a pretty cool meaning too)

[sweetest-asylum.livejournal.com]

so you can explain why they were even asking/saying her name?

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

I don't go to Starbucks, but if it's anything like Jamba Juice, it's because after they make your drink they call out your name, so they have to write it on the receipt when you give your order.

[sweetest-asylum.livejournal.com]

i guess it IS friendlier than giving out numbers, but that works well at sheetz. plus what if there are 2 people with the same name? i've been to starbucks once. they don't have cappuccinos, they don't have french vanilla AND i think their coffee is bitter.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

Of course Starbucks has cappuccinos. A cappuccino is just an extra frothy latte. Whoever told you they didn't? And french vanilla (which doesn't taste any different than regular vanilla to me) is just a vanilla and hazelnut combo.

[sweetest-asylum.livejournal.com]

the girl at starbucks told me they didn't. she said a latte was close, but i hated it. i'm used to sheetz cup'ochinos though. and vanilla instead of french vanilla. the french vanilla that i usually get at sheetz and from nestle does not taste like hazelnut. i hate hazelnut.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

well then she either lied, or was stupid. I dunno what to tell you. Starbucks has always had cappuccinos. It's one of the core drinks you first learn when you get hired.
If you don't like the taste of their coffee, then you don't like it, but if you still find yourself going there for whatever reason, why not just try regular vanilla?

[sweetest-asylum.livejournal.com]

we dont have a starbucks. i was on vacation.

[queen-mab.livejournal.com]

lol Starbucks has cappuccinos.. the girl was incredibly stupid. You can achieve the same taste as a french vanilla with with ingredients Starbucks has.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

And if two people have the same name, you call out the drink with it. And if both the drinks are the same too, then it doesn't matter anyway.

[sweetest-asylum.livejournal.com]

i think i would make up a name. damn stalkers.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

Lol I always loved people who acted like baristas were stalkers because we asked for names. Right, I'm here working, and I just want to stalk YOU, and I'm somehow doing that by asking your name... ok then.
When people didn't want to cooperate with us, we gave 'em fake names anyway.
"what name can I put on your order?"
"I don't want to give you my name!"
"Ok, you're Mickey Mouse, then"

[sweetest-asylum.livejournal.com]

OMG not the workers. if there are so many people there that you have to call out names i'd be worried about someone else getting coffee there learning my name and habits. maybe i'm paranoid but i did have a stalker...at age 11!

[satunian.livejournal.com]

LOL (not lol at your stalker, that's very much sad face, who stalks an 11 year old, really?) well, I did work in downtown Manhattan so there were usually that many people most times. And even when we did call names people sometimes still didn't listen and would just pick up any coffee you put down and then come back saying "this isn't mine" (well you are a woman, and the name on the cup says Dennis... maybe you should have listened). Sometimes people did think we (the workers) were stalkers for asking their names though. I never understood that. I don't think we ever had any problems like that though, I'd say there were too many people for that.

[satunian.livejournal.com]

When a customer orders a drink, they're required as part of the customer service thing, to0 go through a spiel, including upselling an item that you probably don't want and asking for a name to put on the drink. Asking for a name A) allows the customer to feel "personally welcome" (or so Starbucks thinks) B) ensures the customer gets the drink they ordered, especially in times where you're making 20 different drinks for 20 different people who are all standing around not paying attention anyway, and what should happen but Jane picks up Joe's extra sweet with whip caramel macchiato and goes into a tirade on the barista saying "THIS ISN'T THE SUGAR FREE SKINNY VANILLA LATTE I ORDERED" while the barista is thinking "I know, because that drink WASN'T FOR YOU, moron" and C) also discourages shrink from customers because once they reveal a name to go with the face, suddenly it seems the employees are way more aware of you. Though generally that only discourages people already uneasy about theft.

It's a policy many other food and beverage service places employ as well, especially when you don't have servers bringing food to you.

[solitudete.livejournal.com]

That's lovely, and the meaning is awesome.

[qtshorty1625.livejournal.com]

The moment I find out a name is from a different culture than mine, the way I judge the name is completely different. (Kind of like how I used to puzzle over Mathieu Schneider's name: he's from New York and has a German-sounding last name, but a French first name. Then I found out that his mother is French Canadian, and it made perfect sense).

And as for the pronunciation of the name, it reminds me of a quote from Ioan Gruffudd, "We all learned how to say Schwarzenegger."

[harinakshi.livejournal.com]

I'm the same way, it might sound weird, but there's always a chance it's pretty common in another language, and living in California I've run into a lot of different cultures with some odd sounding names, to me, but they turn out to be pretty common for them. Doesn't make them ugly or made up! Just odd in my ears. And I've also learned that my name pronounced in Spanish can sound a lot like their word for "sheet" so I can just imagine that other cultures think our names are pretty weird, too!

[sweetest-asylum.livejournal.com]

i swear everyone in Butler, PA is named Biff or Heidi :)

[qtshorty1625.livejournal.com]

I can just imagine that other cultures think our names are pretty weird, too!
Agreed! I remember having a Spanish teacher from Mexico in high school, and it was the first time I ever had to tell someone how to pronounce my name.

[coffeecup37.livejournal.com]

I like it.

I do not like the "It's not a real name" argument. It generally just indicates how ignorant people are and sort of makes me want to punch them. :p