Everything, Nothing, and I'm a Middle Child

a.k.a. my name is Mara!!!

I've never known another Mara in my entire life. I have always liked my name, my middle name is also stiff competition, and together I like Mara Noelle. Especially if you can say it with a French accent (actually, exclusively if you can say it with a French accent).

However, what I have recently discovered is that I don't like anyone else having my name. A lot of the reason I like my name is that it is something about me that is unique and different. I like the stuff about me that is unique and different. I would never name my daughter Mara. Of course, 'junior' doesn't really exist for women. My fem-dar is screaming sexism, not that I particularly care. I guess it's the whole "continuing the family line" thing. Blah, blah, blah. On the other hand, that whole family line thing may see me visiting a chateau in France next summer. There are some benefits. And no, do not extend that for me to read "there are some benefits to sexism". I'd have to beat you.

Well, another young woman from the States just arrived to serve here. Her name is also Mara. (Mara Jamal - that's almost freaky, considering my older sister's name was Jamali!) Anyway. I'm having trouble liking her. Not her so much as, well...her name is a problem for me. Hey, I said I was a greedy freak. Several people have excitedly told me that their friend Mara was coming to serve (she pioneered to Kazakhstan - does she have to be freakin' cool to boot?). So now she's here. And she's in my old flat (did they plan that?!). And every time someone brings the two of us together, we say hello, look away, and then just sort of walk away from each other.

Rachael, my dearest, lovely, beautiful sister with whom I had the most bestest (female) fribling conversation ever today recommended that I tell her all the cool meanings to our name. I did. I think she thought I was a bit of a freak. Well, I guess I am. I did say I was. But then, hey, wouldn't you be proud if your name meant penis in another language? It's not everyday, you know....

So, I'm having some trouble getting over this and figuring out how to be friendly. On top of this, people are confusing us. I've never had a problem with people knowing who I was. I mean, I'm Mara. Isn't it fairly obvious? She's been here 3 days and already we've been confused twice. I never thought I'd have to identify myself to friends as, "Hi, this is Mara Fojas." I guess I'll have to adjust. I got to a dinner party Friday night, and the host opened the door and rather puzzledly said, "I thought you we're coming late?" I replied, equally as puzzled, "I just called you to ask if it was okay if we came early!?" Like, hello what? Twilight Zone?!?! His reply, "Oh, I thought that was Mara...uh, the other Mara." Wah....sigh. Soooo weird! Then, other people started to come in and introduce themselves and I thought I'd watch peoples reactions, thinking they'd say something like "What, two Maras? What're the chances of that?"

You guessed it. Nada. Nothing. Zip. Zero. Zilch. No reaction. I was shocked. Almost mortified. Hello people! This is crazy freaky!! Nothing.

Wow, do I have to get over this! Big time! Anyway, just thought I'd share.