Country Living and City Living

The dispute between the supporters of city living and country living has a long history. Each of the parties justifies its choice based on the benefits which city living and country living have. The proponents of urban life believe that first it provides the opportunities for professional growth and development, as well as for material prosperity. In turn, the adherents of rural life see its main advantages in clean environment and a relaxed atmosphere. Despite the fact that the two ways of life have their merits, one must recognize the fact that life in the country is better than the one in the city. With the lapse of time the benefits of country living are becoming increasingly apparent. In this paper, the advantages and disadvantages of both ways of life will be analyzed in order to substantiate the point of view of the superiority of provincial life versus the city one.rnThe proponents of country living and city living argue that each way of life is able to provide a person with many opportunities, including education, professional and creative self-development. The availability of kindergartens, schools, libraries, centers of cultural and leisure development, as well as various shops, markets, and the methods of telecommunications provide comfortable accommodation both in terms of country and city living. It is considered to be the main similarity between the country living and city living. However, the more to compare both ways of life, the greater is the number of differences between them.rnCountry living is primarily characterized by outdoor activities, while city living – by indoor activities. The list of outdoor activities includes a variety of different sports activities (racing, swimming, diving, performing various acrobatic stunts), playing games (football/soccer, volleyball, tennis, handball, basketball, fencing), and other activities (fishing, gardening, walking, traveling, driving a car). All of them are of particular importance for psychological relaxation and physical health, as they are always performed outdoors. The indoor activities presented in the city living are also equally varied: reading, watching television, listening to records or tapes or to the radio, entertaining friends, playing games (e.g. chess or cards), painting, singing or playing various musical instruments, cooking, home decorating, and repairing.rnMoreover, the difference between country living and city living lies in the peculiarities of their transport systems. If in city living one might observe a variety of transport, modes of transportation (metro, taxi, etc.), and short distances between public places, than country living is characterized by limited choice of transportation (buses and trolleybuses) and long distances between public places.rnEach of the two ways of life has its own benefits. One of the main features of country living is the fact that it provides a peaceful and relaxing life without serious daily stresses. Moreover, the list of the undoubted advantages of this way of life must include the following items: a great degree of security, healthy environment (fresh air, water and food), closeness to nature, ability to enjoy the beauty and the charm of nature and various animals, as well as a wide range of outdoor activities: fishing, hiking, gathering berries, planting, and gardening. It is difficult to deny the fact that the villagers feel like being a part of community, enjoy free interaction and open communication.rnCity life, by contrast, cannot boast the opportunity to provide fresh food on a daily basis and few neighbors. Townhouses and cottages provide the presence of two neighbors maximally: from the left and the right sides. One should agree that contacting with few neighboring families is much easier than with the residents of a high-rise building. It is also important that usually suburban neighbors have a similar social status. Personal independence is not the benefit of country living. Perhaps it is the most important advantage of a suburban life. Many people do not think of it, but in fact, it is. Try to listen loud music in a city apartment after 22.00 – and the result will be predictable: angry neighbors. This problem can be avoided in a country house. In his/her own walls, one can do whatever his/her heart desires: to sing, listen to music at night, have a hundred of cats, etc.rnRegarding the benefits of city living, the following main benefits should be pointed : a high developed infrastructure, including transport system; life, which is rich in events and cultural development; free access to the monuments of the past; financial independence, and good education. City living means being in the center of a stormy and eventful life, enjoying all the achievements of civilization, studying and earning money, realizing oneself in a large number of professions. However, life in a city, especially in a megalopolis, is not for everyone, because its rhythm is fundamentally different from the natural cycles that define life in the countryside A city sometimes does not have clean air and water. The quality of products can also be questionable, meanwhile hustle and bustle also affect human health.rnSome argue that the city is able to open a lot of possible ways to implement own desires, to find real and genuine talent. Indeed, a person influenced by fierce competition, public tastes and manners may develop his/her own exclusivity, uniqueness and identity, by which he/she can build a life on his/her own script, and not as it is "prescribed by destiny". It is a big advantage of the usefulness of urban world that it opens up more horizons. Nevertheless, one cannot ignore the serious shortcomings of urban life.rnThe recognized “minus” of urban habitat is environmental problems. Air pollution by exhaust gases, waste production, the availability of a range of plants, nuclear power stations, gas stations, highways, etc. cause irreparable harm to the environment and people. Life in ecologically sensitive areas is not attractive, especially if a house is located near the “danger zone”. Another “minus” of city life is a low level of food quality and food intake in haste. Who can boast that eats food, which is environmentally friendly, has a high quality, and is safe for health? There is a small percentage of people who can give a positive answer. Most mid-level employees do not pay attention to their diet. A frantic pace of city life leaves no time to think what to eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner. Often urban residents do not eat up or eat in urban canteens with junk food.rnMoreover, city life results in psychological stress at work. Consequently, people suffer from chronic fatigue and prolonged depression. A villager, by contrast, is unlikely to complain of headaches and lack of sleep. Indeed, lack of fresh air, eating unhealthy food of dubious origin, as well as a constant load at work, leads to the failure of the nervous system, the constant feeling of malaise, fatigue, and lack of sleep, which triggers headaches. One cannot doubt the fact that urban life is associated with lack of physical activity. It is often cause various ailments and applies mainly to office workers, who have a sedentary way of life.rnProbably the most important minus of urban habitat is the lack of rest. Everybody knows about the healing power of sleep. However, urban residents are so concerned about the daily problems that they do not have enough time to sleep. City life has its own rules and principles, from which it is sometimes impossible to deviate. Unfortunately, people allow themselves to relax only few days a year when it is possible to take a vacation. Despite its serious benefits, city life deprives people of psychological calm and balance. It defines the constant stress and stressful situations. People are forced to deal with various problems and all sorts of troubles. Finally, urban life is characterized by high cost of living, as goods and services are quite expensive in the cities.rnTo sum up, each of both ways of life, country living and city living, has its own advantages and disadvantages. Country life is primarily a measured and unpretentious life, whereas urban life is a world of vanity, where a variety of options for study, work and leisure are presented. Nevertheless, given the special importance of maintaining emotional and psychological health, as well as more harmonious, safe and autonomous human existence in general, there is the reason to give preference to country living rather than to city living. Of course, one needs to admit the fact that country living has one major drawback, namely a daily need to overcome the distance from home to the city in case if work is in the city and children attend urban schools, etc. However, this problem is being solved by the presence of a car, which has ceased to be a luxury and became a means of movement, which almost every family is able to have.