Foreigners now start to drop names

My friends Dirty Law, Dust Language and Silky Smooth aren't who you're thinking they are - that is, they're not young Chinese who have picked amusing English appellations.

While much ado has been made about Chinese youths' tendency of picking colorful English names - my wife's university student roster includes Duckmonster (Duckmon for short), Summer Wine and Teabag - few from overseas realize it sometimes works the other way as well.

This gaggle of young foreigners with funny forms of address also wanted flamboyant designations but were disgruntled with the flat-sounding monikers they were given by their Chinese friends.