Rapunzel
If I remember the story of Rapunzel correctly (from my paint-with-water book in my childhood), the fairy tale begins with a man who keeps stealing cabbages/vegetables from a witch's garden for his pregnant wife, whose cravings are insatiable. After a few nights, the witch catches the man, and because he is desperate for his wife's cravings, they strike a bargain: the unborn child for the cabbages.
What mother in her right mind would trade her child for cabbage? I don't care how bad the cravings are; this seems unbelievable. (I did a little research today and apparently, in olden times, it was believed to be dangerous to deny a pregnant woman any craving--having to do with vitamins, etc.) So admittedly, the guy must have thought his wife would die without the stolen cabbages, but I still think its ridiculous to trade your own offspring for a vegetable of any kind.
Why I am thinking about this, you ask? Well, here in France, the system of "bills" is different than it is in the States. For the internet, the cell phone, car insurance, the telephone, etc. we are billed directly out of our checking accounts. Until we die.
That's right. Getting out of a contract with one of them, even for legitimate reasons, such as returning to the States for a year, is nigh unto impossible. I sent out letters, very official-sounding ones, several weeks ago, giving a two month notice that I would be terminating my contracts. I claimed that since I was an American, I was returning to the US and therefore, would not need my cell phone service/internet/health club membership anymore.
Most of them have been decent about it. The cell phone company doesn't believe me. They sent a letter saying that I needed an official letter from the town hall/Mayor's office of Merignac (where I live) saying that I'm leaving France permanently. This posed a problem--I'm not leaving France permanently, so I didn't want to lie to the Mayor's office.
I went the other day, planning to present the case on its own merits and see what would happen. But they shot me down immediately, saying they only do letters like that for the French. I would need to contact the Embassy in Paris. That option seemed a little over-the-top to me.
So this morning I called the cell phone carrier to ask what ELSE could I provide as proof? They asked for one of two things: a letter from my parents (in English is fine!) stating that they will lodge me for a period of more than six months--and this letter needs to be signed/stamped from either our local Mayor's office or the police station of our town. (Riiiiiiiiight) Or, I can have a letter from my employer stating that my term of service overseas is finished and I'm being transferred back to the States. That has to be authorized as well, by the Mayor, the Chief of Police, etc. as well.
I think a notary will suffice. They graciously provided me with a fax number to receive these letters, so that they could "work on the cancellation of my contract as fast as possible" once they receive the proof that I am actually leaving the country.
Yeesh. Is there a form or something where I can just sign over my unborn children?
What mother in her right mind would trade her child for cabbage? I don't care how bad the cravings are; this seems unbelievable. (I did a little research today and apparently, in olden times, it was believed to be dangerous to deny a pregnant woman any craving--having to do with vitamins, etc.) So admittedly, the guy must have thought his wife would die without the stolen cabbages, but I still think its ridiculous to trade your own offspring for a vegetable of any kind.
Why I am thinking about this, you ask? Well, here in France, the system of "bills" is different than it is in the States. For the internet, the cell phone, car insurance, the telephone, etc. we are billed directly out of our checking accounts. Until we die.
That's right. Getting out of a contract with one of them, even for legitimate reasons, such as returning to the States for a year, is nigh unto impossible. I sent out letters, very official-sounding ones, several weeks ago, giving a two month notice that I would be terminating my contracts. I claimed that since I was an American, I was returning to the US and therefore, would not need my cell phone service/internet/health club membership anymore.
Most of them have been decent about it. The cell phone company doesn't believe me. They sent a letter saying that I needed an official letter from the town hall/Mayor's office of Merignac (where I live) saying that I'm leaving France permanently. This posed a problem--I'm not leaving France permanently, so I didn't want to lie to the Mayor's office.
I went the other day, planning to present the case on its own merits and see what would happen. But they shot me down immediately, saying they only do letters like that for the French. I would need to contact the Embassy in Paris. That option seemed a little over-the-top to me.
So this morning I called the cell phone carrier to ask what ELSE could I provide as proof? They asked for one of two things: a letter from my parents (in English is fine!) stating that they will lodge me for a period of more than six months--and this letter needs to be signed/stamped from either our local Mayor's office or the police station of our town. (Riiiiiiiiight) Or, I can have a letter from my employer stating that my term of service overseas is finished and I'm being transferred back to the States. That has to be authorized as well, by the Mayor, the Chief of Police, etc. as well.
I think a notary will suffice. They graciously provided me with a fax number to receive these letters, so that they could "work on the cancellation of my contract as fast as possible" once they receive the proof that I am actually leaving the country.
Yeesh. Is there a form or something where I can just sign over my unborn children?