Thai people apparently think foreigners are incapable of pronouncing many of their names.  As a result, those who interact in the tourism industry often choose alternate names.  Occasionally they are their actual nicknames – shortened version versions of their given names.  Examples might be Ka, Ko, or Ya.

Without a short nickname, they resort to easily pronounceable and familiar English words.  And for some reason, they are almost exclusively foods.  For example, Beer, Toast, Apple.  Can’t make this stuff up.

Then there was one of our waiters in Chiang Mai.  He was very pleasant and knowledgeable.  He was also small enough to make me look like a giant.  His name?  Big.