I impacted my friend Apple.

Photo taken 2004, the night she got a new name

Yes, I did. Intentionally.

Before I left I set myself a goal to name someone. You see, the Chinese in Hong Kong are born with Chinese names, but don't necessarily have an English name. They usually get one given to them by a teacher in High School, or choose one then themselves. Sometimes these names are ridiculously spelt or just plain ridiculous. Like Captain, Shadow, Pretty, Princess, Power, or...Apple.

So Apple wanted to consider other names. After a week of testing out names of all my relatives and close friends, over several beers we came to a name she liked. "Haley". It's a great name. Sounds nice, and it has a meaning if pronounced right in Cantonese tones. She has adopted it as her (new) English name. My work was done.