Seriously folks, how difficult can getting my name right be?

During the three weeks I’ve been here, my name has been repeatedly modified, mispronounced, and played with at will. Its mention triggered random interesting but unsolicited inquisitiveness (which, to be fair, is merely well-intentioned small talk), such as (and this is a non-comprehensive list):

• “Isn’t that a girl’s name?


• “Is it Japanese?”


• “Did you say Mannie or Annie?”


• “Can I call you Honey?”

Recently at a local gym, and despite futile attempts at polite correction, someone decided my name didn’t really fit me and kept calling me Mannie. This morning the Starbucks employee taking orders from a long line of caffeine addicts asked what my name was (to mark my order). In what sounded to me as clear, phonetically correct speech, I answered her question. She then barked my order into her walkie talkie:

“One grande Americano for Andy (looking back at me)...It’s Andy, right?”

“Right.”