第四章：我的中文名字

Teacher Chen wrote two characters on the blackboard: Ma Ke.

"Actually, the name Ma Ke is very good," said Teacher Chen. "Ma is the surname. Ke means 'can', and can also be understood as 'lovable' or 'approachable'. This name is simple and easy to remember."

"Ma Ke." The whole class read it together once.

Ma Ke listened to his own name spoken by so many Chinese classmates and felt it was wonderful.

In Italy, he was Marco.

Here, he is Ma Ke.

The two names were very similar, yet not exactly the same. It seemed he was still himself, but he had begun to have a new self.

At this moment, Lin Hao whispered, "Not bad, at least it's not Mario."

Ma Ke heard it and smiled too.

Teacher Chen saw it and asked, "Lin Hao, what are you saying?"

Lin Hao immediately sat up straight. "Teacher, I said this name is very good."

The whole class laughed again.

Teacher Chen also laughed: "Ma Ke, come write your Chinese name on the blackboard."

Ma Ke walked to the blackboard and took the chalk.

He knew how to write the character 'Ma'. He had practiced it many times before. But standing in front of the podium, his hand suddenly became a bit disobedient. The first horizontal stroke was too long, and the second was too short.

When writing 'Ke', he almost wrote the mouth part crooked.

After finishing, the two characters on the blackboard looked a bit crooked.

Teacher Chen said, "Very good. Your first time writing your name in a Chinese class, it's very commemorative."

"Commemorative" was a bit difficult. Teacher Chen explained again: "That is to say, you will remember this day in the future."

Ma Ke nodded.

He felt that he would indeed remember.

This was an exchange class. After class, many classmates gathered around. Some asked him what time high school ended in Italy, some asked if he liked spicy food, some asked if he could play football.

There were too many questions, and Ma Ke answered slowly.

A girl sitting in the front row came over.

"Hello, my name is Xiaoyu," she said. "This is the QR code for our buddy class activity group. In the future, exchange classes, cultural festivals, and class activities will all be announced here. You can ask Lin Hao to help you scan it."

"Thank you," Ma Ke said.

Xiaoyu smiled. "Your Chinese name is easy to remember."

"Really?"

"Really," Xiaoyu said. "And what you wrote is also quite cute."

Ma Ke took a look at the characters on the blackboard.

So characters could also be 'cute'.

Lin Hao said from the side, "She means you didn't write very well, but it's very interesting."

Ma Ke looked at Lin Hao, then at Xiaoyu.

"It's okay," he said. "I know my characters still need practice."

After he said it, he himself was a bit surprised. Yesterday, if someone had said his Chinese was not good, he might have been sad. But now, he seemed very relaxed.

Lin Hao took out his phone and helped him scan the QR code for the activity group.

A new WeChat group appeared on the screen:

Class 1-3 Exchange Activity Group

Ma Ke had learned both words 'exchange' and 'activity'.

The teacher said this was his buddy class, but the term 'buddy class' was still unfamiliar to him.

Lin Hao explained to him: "You don't come to our class every day, but you participate in our class activities and can also ask questions in the group."

Ma Ke nodded.

In fact, Class 1-3 was not his official class, but it was like a door. Through this door, he could get to know more Chinese classmates.

Before going back to the dormitory at noon, Ma Ke opened his notebook.

The first page was still empty.

He thought for a moment and wrote two characters at the top:

Ma Ke.

This time, he wrote a bit better than on the blackboard.

Below, he wrote another sentence:

"This is my Chinese name."

He looked at this line of characters, feeling a very small, quiet happiness in his heart.

The day before yesterday, he set off on his journey to China.

Yesterday, he moved into the dormitory.

Today, he has a Chinese name.