English Names

The housekeepers at Lanson Suites assume English names when they start working there, and these symbolize their new identities of subservience. This is an attempt to make their employers feel more at ease and to make themselves seem more approachable, because foreigners often find Chinese names too difficult to pronounce. They choose a name that is simple and easy for them to pronounce. Sunny chooses her name at random because she likes the sound of it, and Lina and Wei never even know Sunny’s real Chinese name, yet she knows everything about the family she works for.

Lina’s Bracelet

Lina’s bracelet symbolizes both her memories of Qiang and also the position of wealth that she lives in. To Lina, the bracelet that Qiang gave her many years ago has sentimental value because of the lost potential for love and adventure that her...