Trash Prancing

19 March 2008

Early Tuesday morning I was primed and ready to make my first trash deposit per my "remedial recycling 7x's" lesson from An Na. I planned on taking it down then returning for breakfast and final preparations before leaving for work.

With trash cradled in my arm and poised on left hip, I pranced into the elevator, proud of my accomplishment thus far and everything packaged just so. On the fourth floor, the elevator stopped and a nice looking Korean woman/neighbor got on. She bowed politely, as did I - or at least as best as one can bow with a hip load of neatly packed trash. Then she smiled and pointed toward the ceiling, saying something to me. I smiled and said, "Han gook mal, chal mot hamn ni dah" or "I'm sorry, I don't speak Korean".

Departing on the first floor and opening the outside door, she stopped, waved her arm across the parking lot indicating there were NO trash receptacles! She then said "something" and waved her arm in an arc toward the right, finally pointing her finger down...I got it..."NEXT Tuesday"!

Somewhat dejected and no longer prancing, I returned to the elevator and made my way back up (toward the ceiling) - laughing all the way. When I told An Na, we had an better laugh as even she didn't know trash was picked up every OTHER Tuesday.

At last, I can hold my head high again.

Best,
JB