Being アホ in Japan

Back to the family name topic. Japanese people have reacted quite elusively when hearing it. Here are some of the responses:

Mrs. Kumahara, Secretary, International Students:
"Uhm... excuse me Lauri, how do you actually say your family name?"

Mr. Bahau, Professor and a teacher of Japanese Management:
"Hih, hih, huh, hih... (covering mouth with a hand)"

Many of the colleague students at the Uni.:
"アホ！？　ほんとおおお？"

Assiciate Professor. When checking the name list, instead of reading the whole word, she spelled it out letter by letter, "Mr. A-H-O".

All expectations of negative receiving were wrong and in vain. Nobody has even called me by アホ! Could it be because Japanese, from their nature, are thoughtful and sincere. Maybe so.