I am about to vent about three topics that I know a few friends and family members have, so I am hesitant to write, but oh well...
First, couples that don't have the same last names drive me crazy. I don't care whether the husband takes the wife's last name or vice versa, but I just like it to be the same. Not sharing the same last name causes many problems and much confusion and I encounter all of those problems in membership at the women's club. I waste so much time looking into membership payments that were made by the husband, so the bank transfer lists his name, but the membership is under the wife's name. After several phone calls and e-mails we figure out the problem and I want to say, "If you just had the same name this would all be solved!"
Along with the last name thing, I also don't like the hyphenated last names. It is always a mouthful to say them. For example, just a few double last names from people I know here in Brussels; Morgenthaler-Vandlik or Nijkerk-Bogen or Semmelhaack-Duchene .
One of the worst times for people to have different or double last names is when you are trying to address something to them. Is it:
David and Ann Vankoughnett-Snediker or
David Vankoughnett and Ann Snediker or
David Snediker and Ann Vankoughnett-Snediker
If you have a different or double last name, I think you don't have any right to ever get annoyed if someone can't get your name right in correspondence. How am I supposed to remember that your husband kept his name, but you combined yours OR you both took each others names, but switched the order so your last name is first and his last name is second. I am still waiting to meet a married couple that both were born with double last names and insit on keeping them; Mr. and Mrs Heik-Jokinen-Unterhauser-Schonenberg.
The other thing that bothers me is when people have 'family' e-mail addresses versus having their own. It is highly unlikely that I am going to write something bad to a girlfriend about her husband or child, but I still would at least like to know that her husband and child aren't reading about my visit to the OB-GYN. E-mail addresses are free -- get one for yourself! On that same note, I hate when people use their local internet providers for their e-mail rather than a worldwide company. I say this because I have so many people new to Brussels that set up an e-mail account with Brutele, Telenet, or Skynet. Then when they move and their internet is shut down, we have no way to get in touch with them if they have not left forwarding information. Just set up an account with Yahoo or Gmail and you will never have to change your e-mail address again!
What a ways to start a Monday! Now that I have gotten all that off my chest, I sure do feel better though!
3 comments:
Oh Emily, please don't hate me because I'm a hyphenated girl! ;) LOL!!
But in all seriousness, keeping your maiden name along with your married name is a tradition in many cultures. My family is from Puerto Rico and it is not uncommon for women to keep both names.
I chose to keep my maiden name because it symbolizes who I truly am. I was born with this last name and no matter what happens through the course of my life I will always be that person. It reflects my family history and culture. And that is so much more important to me than what letter my health record gets filed under or how letters are addressed.
So try not to be too upset with us hyphenated girls. ;) Believe me it's a lot to write when signing documents and it can sound like a mouthful when introducing myself but for me it's so worth it. ;)
Ok - I laughed out loud - I agree with all your pet peeves. My maiden name is my middle name, but the only time I write out my full name is first, middle and last is when I am writing to someone work related that might not know me by my new name
I can't wait to get married so I can LOSE my hyphenated last name! The whole last name will go. It will be first name, middle name, and husbands last name (unless it is worse than mine).
Post a Comment