Poubelle

n. – trash can

Upon leaving my apartment, I have six doors to open and two buttons to push just to get outside. This doesn’t include the door to the trash and recycling room in case I need to drop anything off on my way out. And it also doesn’t include the various light switches that I need to push in times of darkness.

I was spoiled living in New York where I barely had to use my hands until it was time to unlock the door to my apartment. With 24/7 doormen and electronic elevator doors, I could keep my hands safely in my pockets if I wanted until I reached my final destination. Locking and unlocking my apartment door was also much less complicated there. The lock to our Paris apartment is spring loaded, which actually requires both hands to operate.

I mention all of this only because if it was troublesome before, it’s only more so with a little ball of fur underfoot that needs precision timing in order to successfully coordinate his disposal needs at street level.

Last night at around 11pm, after suspecting the timing may be right, I proceeded along my ritual of door opening, closing, locking and button pushing giving myself the additional challenge of disposing of the trash and paper/plastic items. Here bottles fall into a third category and since they make such a loud crash in their receptacle, I don’t take them down between the hours of 10pm and 10am.

Lo and behold, no trash or recycle cans to be found since they had already been put out in the street. I thought Monday night was trash pick up, but with only one can for a seven story building, it makes sense that this is a two or maybe even three time a week event. Maybe it occurs every night and I just don’t notice unless I have anything to take down with me after hours.

Trash and recycle disposal in New York was so much easier – there was a room at the end of the hall on every floor with a chute for the garbage and all other items, glass, paper and plastic could simply be left next to said chute. Oh how spoiled we Americans are with all of our space and conveniences. Adapting to a new day-to-day life or “vie quotidienne” has been challenging at times, but there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel. Here all you have to do is remember to turn it on.