Switching lights
(Light switches: Suzhou, China)
Some aspects of life here faded in their novelty very quickly and became assimilated into the everyday so fast that I forgot to mention them entirely. I have however mentioned the Chinese fascination for the convenient. The most convenient way is the best way – regardless of whether it is healthy, acceptable to foreigners or even effective. For instance, thin plastic bags are used to carry hot food from street vendors, so it is cheap, easy to store, carry and the minimal amount of packaging is thrown away. On the other hand, it is possible to feel the bag degrading and melting with the heated food and I’m sure it cannot be good for you – I imagine the hot plastic leaching into my food. I would prefer the hotdog approach of serving food in a folded paper napkin. That way you can hold the hot food and wipe your fingers afterwards.
Anyway, much less messy but just as convenient are the lights in our flat – the switches on the left are the usual continental European style of larger switches, I remember them from time spent in Germany. The square panel of buttons on the right is a completely different affair and we have four of them dotted about the apartment. As you can see, the two buttons on the right have images of bedrooms, the top left is the lounge and the last one, the kitchen. It allows any of these lights to be turned on or off from any of these rooms. I have appreciated this system more during Ying’s absence because I can keep light on in any room I walk into. For instance, I can turn our bedroom light on from the lounge, leave both lights on until I reach the bedroom and then switch off the lounge light. I’m not afraid of the dark, but there are the creaks and groans of the air con, the hot water heater clicks and churns intermittently and these unfamiliar sounds are compounded by nocturnal noises from the neighbours upstairs - these all serve to occasionally make me uneasy on my own. Thankfully Ying returns today after an extended absence of seventeen days so I shall be very relieved when he arrives home.
Hi Rosie,
maybe you take a closer look into the drawers in your apartment – usually there is also a remote control for the light switches. I call it “Taitai remote”.
Sometimes it’s a little bit strange, sitting on the sofa with the collection of the remote controls in front. Aircon, light switches, stereo, DVD, TV, sattelite receiverd, bathroom heating, and hey, not to forget the remote for the small helicopter. I’m just missing one remote “food”…..
Cheers
Stephan
This is completely true, although I haven’t found the light switch one yet. We do have all the others too… erm, just got to wait for the helicopter… shh!
I am back!!