How America got its name?

Christopher Columbus was a food lover. When he was sailing, he always had a Hong Kong Chef on board the ship.

One day in 1492, they discovered land seen from a far. All crew and Columbus was exited and trying to name the “new-found-land” while approaching it. They were naming while Columbus rejected all.

This Chef was woken up by all these noise and and walked up the deck while grumbling in Cantonese “係乜嘢來咔?” (hai mat-je lai kaa). This is translated as “What is it?”. And that truely caught Columbus attention, and ask the Chef to repeat. So he did, “係乜嘢來咔?” (hai mat-je lai kaa). Immediately Columbus knew this is the name for the newfoundland. So its named… America.

It’s shocking isn’t it? To know America came from Cantonese.

But don’t ask me the name of the Chef. No one remembered.

Moral of the story: Be the best you can be, only the best are remembered. Columbus and America are remembered but not the Chef. I am sure you can’t name your great-great-grandfather, unless he left you millions. If you want to be remembered, leave a legacy.