Public Napping

Napping and sleeping – every human being has to sleep and take a rest. Biological needs are universal. The way, these needs are accommodated, however, are different across cultures.

In the Western hemisphere, sleeping and napping are pretty much a private, even intimate affair – you do it in your own bed, on your own sofa. In Asia (i.e. West to East Asia), however, especially napping is a public thing – and nothing one would feel ashamed about. People nap everywhere – in the temple, in a mosque, at their market stall (until a customer comes waking them up), at a coffee table in the street, in office. Any place is just right for taking a nap. In offices in Chengdu (China) I have seen pillows on people’s desks – like a pen or a stapler being part of a common desk equipment. During lunch time, the keyboard was simply pushed back, the pillow moved in front, the head placed on the pillow – ready for napping.