Who is Liuxin Newman?
My name is Liuxin (Leo-shin) Newman.
“Liu” was not only my maiden name, it also has the same pronunciation of the word “distil” or “preserve”; Xin means the mood of deep happiness. Sounds strange? Actually it is very common in China where given names can be any word that exists – instead of choosing from a set of words used as names, such as Jack or Jill in the West. Good words are usually chosen as names in China as a tradition. My parents named me, Liuxin, to remember their happiness getting their first child and played a little pun by threading the two words into a short phrase meaning “long lasting happiness”. No wonder I never caused them any trouble! And 50 years on, I am still their better child.
