The other day, it looked like the garbage truck did not pick up our trash bins. We were worried - maybe it was our responsibility to put the bins on the street? I asked my husband if he had read the lease. He had not. Why would he? He's just a lawyer. :)
Although we live in a 12 unit apartment building, we have responsibilities and obligations (things that normally you get to avoid when you "rent"). Luckily, we do not have to put out the trash bins, but we do have to sweep the entryway into our building every week.
We also have to comply with certain rules, including quiet hours: 1-3 pm and 8 pm-7 am. If the babies would agree to those quiet hours, our life would be awesome! Unfortunately, they do not believe in such rules. While there isn't much we can do about the babies not screaming during those hours, we do have to stop using the dishwasher, washer/dryer, and vacuum during those hours. Also, according to our lease, we cannot shake rugs outside, except during weekday business hours. In addition, we cannot grill on our back deck. There are multiple other rules, most of them not especially relevant to us (thankfully), but still crazy by American standards.
There are also crazy trash laws. Trash has to be separated into various categories: paper, packaging (the packing of products that you may buy), raw compost, general trash. General trash cannot include any trash that falls into other categories. "Glass trash" must go in a special receptacle, located down the street. Used batteries must be disposed of at select locations (usually at the drug stores that don't sell drugs). I know - these are great laws for the environment, but for frazzled sleep deprived parents of twins, they are more than we would prefer to handle right now.
Oh well, I guess we have are own laws and regulations that the Germans might find crazy, too. Signing off for now - need to convince the boys to comply with "quiet hours".
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