What's in names

I was given the name Tesfai when I was born in Ethiopia and coming to Sweden at the age of nine the Swedish authorities thought the name was to exotic so my parents had to give me a Swedish name, Göran. 


In family and among friends and colleagues I am always called Tesfai. The Swedes call me Göran Tesfai. A good friend of mine said “Göran Tesfai” is who you are, superswedish and superafrican. 


I have had 20 percent of my life in Africa, 75 percent in Sweden, four percent in USA and one percent in the Middle East. A grand mix with oriental flavouring. So in writings I am happy if you use Tesfai or Göran Tesfai. Göran alone reminds me of authorities implementing their bureaucratic rules on my mother and father. By the way Tesfai is Amharic and means “hope”.