Sample Essay

The Advantages of Living in The Countryside

The mention of life in the countryside immediately brings to mind notions of unsullied beauty and relaxation of body and mind. Indeed, living in the countryside brings many advantages.

First of all, the quality of the resources that we use, such as air and water, is many times better in the countryside than in the cities. Since industries are usually located in the cities or their outskirts, there are no toxic fumes to pollute the air of the countryside. Besides, there is not much traffic, so air pollution on that account is also absent. Furthermore, there isn’t any toxic waste from factories to pollute the water in the countryside. The population of rural areas is much less than that of the cities and towns, so man-made waste is much less. Less man-made waste means less waste dumped into the water and the soil. Thus, air, water and soil are all better in the countryside, and anyone who lives there can enjoy these resources in as pure a form as possible.

Secondly, many rural areas are self-sufficient vis-à-vis food. Vegetables and fruits are grown there seasonally, and livestock is raised throughout the year for meat. Fish is very often caught from the local stream. This means that one does not have to depend on store-bought vegetables, fruits or meat for sustenance. Thus, one can be sure of the freshness of the food eaten in the countryside.

Another advantage is that life in the countryside is far cheaper than life in the cities. The price of land and houses in the countryside is much lower than that in cities and towns. Food too, is much cheaper because most of it is locally produced. The cost of living in the cities is high, and it keeps getting higher and higher.

What about the quality of life in terms of interpersonal relationships in the countryside? Generally speaking, people who live in rural areas are closer to each other and help out each other in times of need. It is far from the cut-throat competition and the rat race of the corporate world that seems to plague life in the cities nowadays. Children growing up in the countryside are likely to have many friends of the same age playing together in the local park. Children in the cities are often so bogged down by tons of school work and homework as well as after-school activities that they do not have time for play. In any case, there is no free space like an open park in most cities, and children play only on artificially created ‘play dates’.

What is the other side of the coin?

Even as we say that there are many benefits of living in the countryside, we cannot turn a blind eye to its downsides. First and foremost, job opportunities in the countryside are limited. For this reason, young people who spent their entire childhoods in the countryside have to migrate to the cities. Often, this leaves only the aging parents in the countryside. Furthermore, children studying in a school in the city are much more exposed to the latest happenings and technological trends around the world. This makes them much more prepared to take on the challenges in life compared to the kids studying in schools in the countryside. Young people in general like to be in ‘happening’ places. For them the city with its vibrant nightlife and pubs may be much more enticing than the boring and calm countryside. Finally, healthcare facilities are abysmal in many rural areas. In the case of a life-threatening illness or a really serious operation, people will have to depend on expert doctors in hospitals in urban areas. Some people shift their residence to cities just because they want to be near to a well-equipped hospital.

All said and done, it can be seen that both the city and the countryside have their merits and demerits. Many people want the best of both worlds, and so those who can afford it live in an apartment in the city and maintain a bigger house in the countryside. They live in the city most of the time, but go to the countryside when they can take some time off from work, and when the children have holidays. It is those who cannot afford such an arrangement that are denied the benefits of a life in the countryside.