It’s a boy

Posted on September 29, 2007 by | 12 Comments

baby boy
We received some great news yesterday. We were at the doctor and as we looked at our little offspring on the screen, the doctor told us that the baby in Rana’s tummy is a boy.

It’s been interesting to note the reaction of Turkish friends when telling them that we’re having a boy. They’re invariably excited for us as though we’ve received the greater of two blessings. I’ve personally been indifferent about the sex of the baby, knowing that I would welcome a son or a daughter into our family with equal excitement. But it is interesting to note the difference in cultures.

This attitude is best expressed in a Turkish anecdote. I’ve been told that when people are conversing together and the conversation comes to an unanticipated halt, someone will say “a girl was born” to explain the awkward silence.

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  • http://flickr.com/photos/ersin01 Ersin

    Good news!!! Junior Jake is coming :) ))
    i am happy to hear that news…Congratulations Jake and Rana..

  • http://www.erinch.com Erinc

    Congratulations!

  • http://grandstandingtraction.blogspot.com Jon

    Congratulations Jake and Rana!

    As a side issue, when we had our babies, legally the doctor is not allowed to release the confirmation of sex through DNA, when we had a test done. It limits the idea of having an abortion afterward if a girl result is unwanted.

  • Nihat

    Okay then. Color question is resolved. :) On to finding a name that is pronounced the same way in two, three?, languages… That’s a challenge. And fun, too. Enjoy the excitement…

  • http://ankarafootbal.blogspot.com Oz Kanka

    Don’t worry about pronunciation, that’s for other people to worry about. The main thing is to make sure that the boy isn’t given a name that could be an insult or twisted in a different country. Remember kids can be very cruel to each other.

    It is very petty but I can guess the playground insults that a kid called Tugay or Ufuk in most western countries would be horrible for the child.

  • Magnus Alphonce

    Just choose a name you like… There’s no way around mispronounciations and misunderstandings… We chose to spell our son’s name with a “c”, Victor, instead of the normal “k”, knowing we’d be living and working internationally. But, alas, we end up in Turkey were “c” is pronounced like the English “j”… As we say in Swedish: whatever way you turn, your butt is behind you! But I have to throw in one word of warning: We had a visitor once, from Holland, and she introduced herself to our American friends as “Hi, my name is Tits!” We Swedes had a good laugh, our American friends just went through a color metamorphis… ;-)

  • http://laura-olson.blogspot.com laura

    yea, just don’t name it ufuk

  • http://www.remarkablesolutionsblog.com joybringer

    My apologies on a belated Congratulations. I just wonder what happened to the days of not knowing the sex of your baby until their little bodies appear in light. It was a lot more fun back then to stay guessing.

    Can is nice for pronunciation but then if you kept the spelling in the western world that could be laughable to. The Swedes have it right about your butt. You can’t win for losing.

  • Karin

    So, its true! I heard a roumor the other day on the phone but weren’t sure. A child, what ever sex or name… that’s so great! He will be so cute, curley hair in red or black or redish black…? I just wish you the best!
    About names: you two have the chance to pick a totally weird name if you like, or make up one yourselves. If it’s strange people will think it’s a normal name in one of your countries and exept it anyway. A Swedish friend, married to a dutch guy, gave their child a rare and oldfashioned name but we thought it was ok since it must be very normal in Holland. -Well, it wasn’t…. but now we are used to it.

  • Nihat

    Bea, an older friend here in the States has a son named ‘John Can.’ In the States, he can use ‘John C.’ and in Turkey, ‘J. Can’ if he has to. Parents call him ‘Can Can’ or ‘John John’.

  • http://www.mirdifderya.blogspot.com Derya

    Dear Jake,

    Having 2 dautghers of own, can’t say the same reaction happen to me, My mum who is a Turk always used to say, she wished could of have another dautgher:) For us we say as long as healthy.. not in only Turkey but everywhere is the same Boy is important:) my inlaws who are english always wanted a boy never told us but still asking when we are planning 3rd one:)

  • Can

    He shall be called Can of course, a tribute to Sakirgils, a very great name, he will be a great person too, just like his uncle Can