Ellis Island Redux

"My last name is going to change soon," one of my students confided in me.

"Really?" I asked. "How come?"

"It's my grandfather's name!" she explained. "So my sister and I have different last names even though we have the same mom and dad," she scoffed.

I knew a bit about her culture. "So, your dad's last name is your grandfather's first name, right?"

"Yeah," she said. "And that's the last name they gave me here, but it's not right."

"Because your last name is really your dad's first name?" I replied.

"Yes," she sighed. "America just messed up a little."