I know it is crazy....6 months later....we have decided to change the spelling of Sefan's name back to Sifan. A few things:
1) Our initial paperwork listed her name as Sifan. The spelling "Sefan" did not appear until we reached Ethiopia and found it spelled this way on her birth certificate
2) When people see "Sefan" they tend to pronounce her name "S'fawn" and often I can't get people to change their pronunciation after they have learned it this way. In reality her name is pronounced "See-fen". So if we change the spelling to Sifan then likely teachers, etc. will not even try to pronounce it and ask us. Sifan is too shy to correct people (unlike Wubitu) so this may help her later.
3) She will have to spell her name to people no matter which way we spell it as "huh" or "what was that" is the always the response when Sifan tells people her name.
4) Ultimately though, the reason for the change is this picture:
This treasure is a picture of Sifan's 3rd birthday party in Ethiopia. The last she had with her Ethiopian family. The video crew we contacted to do a life video for Sifan sent us 6 pictures that Sifan's birthfamily wanted her to have. These pictures are a true treasure as most children who have been adopted internationally have very little to no pictures of their life with their birthfamily. We are so greatful to have these.
We have been so busy that I have not had time to study these photographs. As I was scanning them to make copies for Sifan's adoption book I noticed in the background a birthday poster that clearly spells Sifan's name "SIFAN." So we have decided to spell it the same way that her birthfamily spelled it.
Sifan has really taken to the change, actually she is very excited about it! She can now write her name very clearly. Though I felt a little silly telling her preschool teacher that we were changing the spelling of her name; especially since we changed her birthdate just 8 weeks ago.
Thankfully we have not readopted (adoption speak for the registration of the adoption in our state where you can make name changes and in our case a birthdate change) so the spelling change can easily be made as we are filling out the paperwork this week :)
P.S. if anyone can translate the rest of the poster I would be very very grateful!
1) Our initial paperwork listed her name as Sifan. The spelling "Sefan" did not appear until we reached Ethiopia and found it spelled this way on her birth certificate
2) When people see "Sefan" they tend to pronounce her name "S'fawn" and often I can't get people to change their pronunciation after they have learned it this way. In reality her name is pronounced "See-fen". So if we change the spelling to Sifan then likely teachers, etc. will not even try to pronounce it and ask us. Sifan is too shy to correct people (unlike Wubitu) so this may help her later.
3) She will have to spell her name to people no matter which way we spell it as "huh" or "what was that" is the always the response when Sifan tells people her name.
4) Ultimately though, the reason for the change is this picture:
This treasure is a picture of Sifan's 3rd birthday party in Ethiopia. The last she had with her Ethiopian family. The video crew we contacted to do a life video for Sifan sent us 6 pictures that Sifan's birthfamily wanted her to have. These pictures are a true treasure as most children who have been adopted internationally have very little to no pictures of their life with their birthfamily. We are so greatful to have these.We have been so busy that I have not had time to study these photographs. As I was scanning them to make copies for Sifan's adoption book I noticed in the background a birthday poster that clearly spells Sifan's name "SIFAN." So we have decided to spell it the same way that her birthfamily spelled it.
Sifan has really taken to the change, actually she is very excited about it! She can now write her name very clearly. Though I felt a little silly telling her preschool teacher that we were changing the spelling of her name; especially since we changed her birthdate just 8 weeks ago.
Thankfully we have not readopted (adoption speak for the registration of the adoption in our state where you can make name changes and in our case a birthdate change) so the spelling change can easily be made as we are filling out the paperwork this week :)
P.S. if anyone can translate the rest of the poster I would be very very grateful!
6 comments:
Cindy said...
I could ask my friend here what he thinks. I love that you have that picture. An amazing treasure : )
Cindy said...
I left you a message but this is what he wrote in his e-mail:
I looked the Photo and part of it is written in Ormogna which I couldn’t help much.
The Amharic version may be translated as “ Happy Birthday to Sifan Yosef”
Hopefully someone will know someone who can tell you more. Again it is just an amazing thing to have.
HTH
Amanda said...
I talked with Mitike (she was still awake) and both her and Sena still speak a lot of Oromo. She loosely translated the sign as the following:
Dhalo - Cut Bread (She didn't know the english word to use)
Baga - Ever
Guyyaa - Day
Ta Keethn - My #1 baby (again this was just her trying to fit the right English words to the Ormoro words
Waggaa - Old
3FF - Number 3
I hope this helps. I'll ask Sena tomorrow if she has any thing to add.
It's funny because if one of them gets angry at something, they start speaking Oromo and then the other one rats them out by translating.
We also received pictures for both of our girls and we treasure being able to see that little bit of their past.
Amanda
Amanda said...
And I am also at fault for saying Sifan's name incorrectly and our girls correct me each and every time.
Our girls miss her dearly and love seeing the photos that you post of her.
Amanda said...
Mitike is full of info tonight - The red fruit in the bowl is actually avocados and the one in the middle might be an orange.
The items on the plate next to the bread look like pieces of lemons to her also.
The bread is the traditional celebration bread. We were able to have this when we picked up the girls at our adoption agency's Ethiopian worker's home. In case you have not had it, it is very delicious and moist.
Mitike is now back in bed so that should be all I have for tonight. :)
Meshellay9 said...
I am LOVING that you are getting some feedback on that picture...so incredibily awesome!! Gave me chills and what a blessing for her to have as she gets older. Love ya!