Cont'd from 名字的含義

Some time ago I was asked if I am good at Mandarin. It is very true that it has become more and more useful. Everyone has to master it well to secure a good job. Not only people from Hong Kong, but every country with close contact with China, are learning it. But one's language proficiency and preference are not the same thing. When I was on my trip to Korea, I was impressed that so many people can speak some Mandarin. And they preferred Mandarin to English when they talked to me (not sure if there was something to do with my appearance tho). Nonetheless I was hestitant. I did not know if I should respond in Mandarin or English. I understand to most people Mandarin to Chinese people is as natural as English to Britons and Americans. They would not really care the other languages, and would think the other languages are merely dialects or variants. Mandarin is a language that I can speak, but I would not prefer whenever English is an option - though I will not hide away from it when it is necessary. It is probably something to do with my recognition of myself. I was born, raised and educated in a place which culture and success story is based upon the Cantonese and English languages. What you are to people around you is what you speak, and what you are called. -- 02:24