Why are the light switches outside of the office doors?

This morning when I arrived at the office with my hands full a colleague who I like and respect alot. He is German/South African and been living here over 15 years and married to a Azeri woman...he's a consultant...anyway, he opened my office door for me as I couldn't reach for the knob. But as I walked into the dark office, I said, geez why do they put the light switches on the outside.....he looked at me and said "control".....I said "dang, I have not been in the country long enough to make those assumptions"....he quiped back..."what do you mean assume".....oh yeah.....life on the wheel, life in the absurd....