Our Antique Elevator

I thought I'd take you to a little tour of the place where I live. It is a building constructed in the late 30s, during the WWII (though the war did not actually involve Sweden) when materials were poor and lacking.

I don't know if the elevator was installed from the beginning or not, but the one we use today is still the one that was originally installed. Along with everything else in the building, it is K-marked, "K" for kultur, meaning this is a cultural landmark designated by the government. An architectural example of the infamous functionalism school (International Functionalism movement) in the 20s-30s.

Being K-marked means that none of the details of the building can be changed, because it is a defacto living museum, and we who live in it are museum objects!

Well, the problem with the elevator, or "hiss" in Swedish, is that it is not only small but there is only one in the building. And it cannot be made to stop on different floors on its way up or down. So only one person/group from a single floor can use it at any one time. There is often a very long wait because it moves so extremely slowly. Worse still, if someone forgets to close the metal inner door, then the elevator stops dead on a particular floor. So if I happen to have a lot of grocery bags and waiting for the elevator on the ground floor, and someone has forgotten to close the door properly, I am damned. The poor elderly people in our building have been having a hard time with this problem.

Unfortuately, as I mentioned, this elevator will never be replaced by a modern one, because it is a museum object. The best one can do is to restore the little details, like this lamp which bears the characteristics of the functionalism era... and some people in the building are so taken by it they forget about the inconveniences.

The Culture of the Mask

I recently did a sociological experiment.

Due to the rampant spread of colds and flus in Stockholm--a typical phenomenon during the long winter season each year--I decided to wear a mask when I go out in the public. I wanted to avoid getting sick.

Most people give me a really scared look, first they stare at me, then turn away, thinking "what the heck is going on?", then look back at me once, twice or even three times.

Ok, a few educated citizens did not give a damn. But it is hilarious that while I am seated on the bus, the entire section around me remains empty. It is as if there was an epidemic. Scarcely do people realize that it is their epedemic that I am trying to avoid.

One day, a cashier gave me a few curious looks and I couldn't resist "educating" him about the merits of wearing a mask. "Well, don't be scared of me," I said. "I noticed that you stared at me for quite some time so I thought I'd disspell your fear. I wear a mask to avoid getting sick. I am not sick myself." He said, "This is really rare in Sweden, you know." "I know," I replied. "But it is a smart thing to do when everybody around you is sick." He nodded, giving me an embarrassed look.

The level of awareness when it comes to transmittable disease is really low in this country, I realized. Well, the general attitude is, what is a cold or a flu? In fact, most people can't tell the difference between the two, and they often tell others that they get a cold, even though they have been coughing so much that they lose their voice. And they keep on going to work, school and gatherings. Downplaying disease is the best way to spread it. What would happen when the bird flu arrives? A typical response would be: "Oh, it's just a little cold. Nothing to worry about."

I was delighted to see people wear masks during my visit to Hong Kong. They are people having a flu or a cold, and don't want to give it to others. Although I don't think everybody does that, it seems that the awareness is really high due to the previous SARS experience. When the awareness is there, there is no more embarrassment. It's a "no questions asked," "just do it" attitude. I like that. And I think that people are much more prepared for any epidemic, despite the high density of the population there.

Unfortunately, I did not keep up my masking policy. Last weekend I had to take it down at a big party I attended, because I was the co-host and wearing a mask would amount to a high degree of anti-social attitude. And sure enough, I caught a flu--a nasty sort of stomach flu that has been circulating all over the city (or country?).

I hope that one day the culture of the mask will catch on, and perhaps even become a fashion statement :-)

Benny Andersson's Charitable Idea

This past Christmas I saw a rediculous ad. It was an ad about a new Mobile ring tone composed by ABBA's Benny Andersson. Here is what the ad says:

"By sending the word JUL (meaning, Christmas) to 72777, you automatically donate 50 kronor to the Red Cross. As a sign of gratitude, we will give you a ring tone composed by Benny Andersson. Your gift will contribute to the battle against the growing problem of loneliness in Sweden, and to give your fellow human beings a little more warmth."

First of all, how exactly do you give your fellow human beings a little warmth by sending a cold SMS? Second of all, I don't see how Benny Andersson's ring tone can bring me any joy, not being a big fan of him. He himself is not much of a warm personality to be sure. One summer when I had just moved to Sweden, I ran into him when he was walking his dog in my neighborhood. So I went up to him and was about to ask him for an autograph. I used my half-bred Swedish and asked him first if he was Björn (coz that's what my Swedish husband told me, ha ha!) He suddenly got quite angry and walked away without saying a word! I was not disappointed about not getting an autograph, but quite surprised at his petty reaction. So to associate him with the idea of "warmth" just seems like an oxymoron to me.

Well, intellectually this may be a good idea to some, but for me, it surely cannot beat going out there and touching someone's life by sharing a real smile or a real hug.