In that time, high-rise collective housing started to replace the old single houses or townhouses in Taiwan, and most households were living in a single apartment. Every collective housing must have a convention which demands all of the ways leading to the exit be kept clear of anything, including shoes in front of the door and other public areas, so as to secure safety in case of fire. But I guess you must have seen few of residents follow the convention. Not only "odorous shoes", but also shoeboxes, closets, bicycles, and sundry other items can be found in the doorsteps, stairs of almost every household in collective housings.
In these days, a pre-notice was pasted on the wall of the elevator in the collective housing where I am living at. The notice indicated an inspection of safety by municipal bureau would be carried out one day within three possible days. Then I found my neighbors were busy moved the stuff outside their apartments to the basement where the gym and the library are located. And on yesterday, perhaps when the inspection was over, I saw they were likewise busy moved those stuff back to where they had "belonged". Ha, what a tokenism it is!
PS Every apartment in the collective building where I am living at is at least as large as 45 Japanese pings. Is that not spacious enough for the residents to accomodate those stuff inside the house?
