Trash

In a foreign country almost everything is an adventure, a puzzle, a challenge, or a mystery. That excitement drives me to travel and keeps me in constant wonder of every day activities like taking out the trash. After being in our humble new home for two days it became necessary to take out the trash. So we struck out to explore our ten story building. We found balconies, the garage, and abandoned floors, but alas no trash receptacle. At the time we only knew fellow newbies so we were at a loss.

After a few more days we crossed paths with a foreigner who had been around for a while and eagerly asked where we could throw away our trash. Our new mentor laughed; remembering how baffled they were when they first arrived. For them going around the block to the neighborhood trash site had become so normal that they forgot new comers would have trouble.

These trash sites have recycling for paper, plastic, metals, food, light bulbs, and batteries. Everything else goes into a bin labeled ‘combustible’. Fortunately someone gave us the tip to store our food waste in the freezer until we’re ready to take it out. This way it doesn’t smell up the apartment.