Taking A Break

Sustainable Development Goals

Sustainable Development Goals 3 [Good Health and Well-being] Sustainable Development Goals 11 [Sustainable cities and communities]

The importance of rural areas is overshadowed by the rapid growth of urban areas. The rate of rural-urban migration is increasing especially in developing countries as citizens find more opportunities in career advancement within cities. Urban areas are essential for supporting the economy, but they rely on rural areas to provide food, water, and raw materials. Despite this, rural areas are being threatened by urbanization. Land gets swallowed by the growing cities, along with many natural resources and forests, destroying the landscape of rural areas. It is important to take care of the rural areas that provide for the ever-growing urban cities. This essay was written from the perspective of someone from the city, but has seen the drastic differences between urban and rural areas.

The setting sun paints the sky a vivid shade of pink. Looking at it too long makes it seem fake, almost. The taxi moves at a pace so fast it hurts my eyeballs to try to keep up with the trees. Looking at them makes me dizzy, so I train my gaze at the clear, cloudless sky instead, soothing my eyes. The road to the village is nothing more than a well-worn dirt track with a few potholes that jarr me awake when I’m almost lulled to sleep by the unbroken silence. I haven’t been here since I was six, but I am intimately familiar with the small huts with straw roofs and clay stoves beside them, the sight of uncles chatting on their rickety bamboo chairs, and the dirt road made muddy with rain. The bright yellow taxi skids to a stop in front of my grandmother’s old brick house, and I step out.

Seeing the village reminds me of the many memories I had playing here before I was whisked away to the big city by my parents. The community here is as close-knit as I remember. There is a small gaggle of children playing wildly with a ball, kicking it wildly to and fro, which sends dirt flying up onto their clothes. They were unbothered by the dirt that splattered everywhere, leaving stains on their shirts later on. The mud gives slightly under my shoes as I walk to the small wooden door. It swings open to reveal my grandmother sitting in a chair, knitting under a swinging lamp. The light is only bright enough to illuminate the area that it’s shining directly on. The rest of the house is dark and gloomy, the doorway leading to the spare guest room being barely visible. My grandmother smiles at me warmly. In the dim light, I see that she’s aged a little more than when I last saw her. Her wrinkled skin was brown and spotted from days of working out in the sun gathering herbs and nuts.

Dropping my bags in a corner of the guest room, I took a good look at it. The bed was a single bed, sheets crisp, fresh, and smelling of laundry detergent. In the dim light from the single bulb on the ceiling, I can see particles of dust swimming in the air. During my shower, the water was so bone-chillingly cold it raised goosebumps on my skin. As a city person, the environmental change was dramatic. The bright neon lights from skyscrapers and shops that used to blind me have been replaced by dim, flickering light bulbs that make me strain my eyes to see in the dark. Mosquitoes are rampant, buzzing loudly around my ears. There are also bamboo mats on the floor, which were rough and caught onto my socks. They were a far cry from the smooth marble tiles I was used to. Outside the window, the darkness seems to swallow any patch of land without light. Bugs swarmed around the few bulbs that were on. Lying down on the thin mattress, I get lulled to sleep by the chirps of insects.

I wake up to the sound of birds chirping and the morning sun. The smell of petrichor wafts into the room, and I fling off my blanket. The humid air in the village makes the sheets feel like they are damp. Stepping onto the cool mattress, I walk out to see my grandmother already awake and shelling nuts. It rained last night, judging by the dew falling from the leaves of the trees and the damp dirt. It is a peaceful atmosphere, and I sit down to help peel nuts and listen to the tiny erratic plops of raindrops onto mud.

Staying in a rural area after living in the hectic city works wonders for the mind and body. I do miss the fast internet and the endless shops and cafes, but after months of studying tirelessly and trying to keep up with assignments, staying in a relaxing rural village is a welcomed change.