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They are out to get you... |
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Thursday, 24 May 2007 13:45 |
If I didn't know it better, I'd say everyone in Berlin is out to get you. Maybe even this is too optimistic. The final days in Berlin have started. We are leaving the capital of old Europe - or at least Germany - to move to Washington, DC, the self proclaimed capital of the world. Sixty days are left at this point and I am not sure if this seems like a long or a short time to me. A couple of weeks ago, I was sad about leaving Berlin. Now I am wondering what might have triggered these thoughts. It is becoming more and more apparent that Berlin is showing us its cold side. It is acting like a grumpy old man and a woman cheated on in one person.
Today, I received a letter from a hormone check-up that my doctor
suggested. Even though it was supposed to be a quick test, the results
are costing more than 600 Euros. If you think this is a lot, imagine me
opening the letter. I feel a little lied to and definitely not informed
about the extent of these tests. One might say that stuff like this
happens and it does. It just happens a lot more in Berlin.
Some days ago a letter from my former tennis club showed up. Sonat had given me a one year membership (or so we thought) for my birthday two years ago. It was very nice and I enjoyed playing. Since I was too busy this year with the move and other things, I decided not to extend the membership. Unfortunately, this is not how it works. The membership gets renewed automatically and upgraded from the student price to a regular one if you don't cancel in writing by December 31st. I wasn't aware of this and quite surprised to get mail from the club in May. I thought, they'd invite me to a barbecue or something. Little did I know. The letter was a threat with a collection agency because I hadn't payed my membership. A call later and many explanations, mainly the fact that I am NOT in Berlin any more, the issue still hadn't been resolved. The board of the tennis club is now dealing with my concern.
I used to think sports memberships are for your personal good and health. Not here. Once you sign up or in the case above not even sign anything, you are trapped in something like a contract and they won't let you out. The gym we go to is another one of those blood sucking sports "clubs". Sonat tried to cancel her membership in January and was eight days past the yearly deadline. Whoops. The contract got extended by an entire year with the only possibilities of breaking a leg and moving to get out. Hopefully, the cancelation of this contract will be easier with our move.
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