Huh?!

You know how you respond to something you don't understand or fail to catch with a "huh?"
Turns out it's an unconventional way of reacting in Japan.

I guess people respond with a 何 (nani, meaning 'what') or an ん (un, just a nasal sound detecting uncertainty) instead. "Huh" is reserved for situations when you're looking to start a fight.

People do a double take when I say 'huh' and suggest that I stop saying 'huh' to them.

I guess old habits die hard, though.
I'm still working on not sounding like a street thug. :)

Sorting trash in Japan

Sorting trash is serious business in Japan. I heard that if you didn't sort your trash properly, the day's trash might end up back at your doorstep.

The first two pictures details the government's official classification of trash. If you ask me, I'd say that it's too darn complicated. The third picture shows our "trash calendar," meaning that you are only allowed to throw a certain type of trash (before 8 am) that certain day.

I'm still trying to sort my trash so I haven't thrown any of my trash yet... @@

There's a crow outside my window!

...and it just stopped crowing... :D