Lift Me Up

There are all sorts of interesting occupations in China, which you would not come across very often in Europe.

I have written before about ear cleaners, with their little stools and array of tools, waiting for customers in parks somewhere out there in central China.

Now I'd like to share another occupation with you, something that I see every day in our very own building: Lift attendant.

Forget the people you sometimes might see in extra fancy hotels in the west, someone standing in a uniform with polished buttons, ready to take the wealthy guests to their floor.

I'm talking the guardian of the one single lift in our very normal apartment building, with her little box-like miniature desk in one corner of the already small lift, and the stack of daily newspapers she sells those riding the lift for 5 mao each. This is the woman who makes sure the lift is used properly, and there is no joyriding, no sir.

And the best bit is that she is equipped with a custom-made stick for pressing the buttons, with a ball of some soft, rubbery material taped to one end, so she doesn't have to reach her arm too far to press the buttons, but she can stay put on her little chair and just use the stick.

Oh, it's brilliant.

Not to even mention the fact that the lift only goes to three floors our of 10: the 1st, 8th and 10th.

But sometimes, when she's taking a break, or maybe having a nap in the little office, with the hard bed right next to the lift on the first floor, we get to ride the lift by ourselves and PRESS THE BUTTONS on our own. Man, do I feel like a rebel every time I manage to get away with that!!