AES114 Rural Villages vs. Advanced Metropolitan

As I’ve been to both ends of the spectrum, it’s really interesting to compare the everyday life of a rural village and a bustling metropolitan city.

The food is one of the major differences. When I lived in a village in Java, the food was very simple, eggs and cheap bean-based side dishes like tofu and tempe. The vegetables are picked fresh from the garden, and the fish are caught fresh from the river. Even though the price value was practically non-existent, I still have fond memories of eating together with the villagers, sharing stories after a long day from the field.

Food in a metropolitan city like Singapore is another story. The first thing you’ll notice is the price, one normal meal here costs around 6-7 dollars, which could last me weeks in a village. The very practical and quick system of serving meals is apparent too, because this is a business, competition with other vendors is a given. The most expensive dish I’ve eaten here costs almost 30 dollars, which would have lasted me months back in Indonesia. And even though the ingredients are high quality and the preparation is masterful, I didn’t enjoy them more than the simple meals I had back in the village. I've eaten many fancy expensive dishes, but somehow I remember more fondly the simple honesty of the village.

Another difference is the people, the temperament and lifestyle is very noticeably different. It’s clear that villagers and city-goers expect different things from life, and the way they live it shows. City-goers are always in a rush to their next appointment, ticking boxes and trying to make as much money as possible, to spend them at their next shopping spree, everything must be more glamorous than the last time. Villagers are much more laid back, they experience happiness and fulfillment from simple pleasures and being with their family, doing their everyday routine in a small-scale village where everyone knows each other. This is just a generalization of course, there is far more diversity in both ends of the spectrum, with all the good and bad that exists in human society.

So in the end, which lifestyle best suits me? Well I think the answer is in the middle, live primarily in a small town, and occasionally marvel at the advanced technology of big cities, and try to experience simplicity and serenity only found in nature and villages.