第1624期:How rural life becomes a modern fantasy

Rolling hills and endless green pastures – those images are easy to conjure when thinking of the idyllic country lifestyle. When lockdowns descended upon many countries across the world during the pandemic, social media seemed to be dominated by pictures of cottages and village life – people getting away from it all. So, why is living in the countryside becoming a modern fantasy – and are there benefits to considering a slower pace of life?

连绵起伏的丘陵和一望无际的绿色牧场——当想到田园诗般的乡村生活方式时，这些画面很容易让人联想到。当大流行期间全球许多国家实行封锁时，社交媒体似乎被别墅和乡村生活的照片所主导——人们远离了这一切。那么，为什么生活在农村成为一种现代幻想——考虑慢一点的生活节奏有好处吗？

It makes sense that some people would want to give up the crowded and noisy city streets for the perceived tranquillity of the traditional country life – especially during an event like a pandemic. The lockdowns and extensive periods of working from home have given people time to think about what they want from life. But it’s not just about having a greener place to look at out your window.

有些人愿意为了传统乡村生活的宁静而放弃拥挤和嘈杂的城市街道，这是有道理的——尤其是在像大流行这样的事件中。封锁和长时间在家工作让人们有时间思考他们想要从生活中得到什么。但这不仅仅是有一个更绿色的地方可以看到窗外。

There is more evidence that relates to the benefits of rural living. Villages aren’t normally subject to the stop-go traffic we see in city centres, the buses fighting with taxis for dominance, or metro systems with trains that scream from one station to the next. In short, there’s less air pollution in your country retreat – a thing which increases the chances of developing respiratory conditions or heart disease. You also get more opportunities to take long walks and see the sights, meaning you can get more exercise. Less noise, more walks and better air can also lead to less stress and an increased life expectancy, according to studies such as one conducted by the British government in 2012.

有更多的证据表明农村生活的好处。村庄通常不会受到我们在市中心看到的走走停停的交通、公共汽车与出租车争夺主导地位的影响，或者地铁系统的火车从一站到下一站的尖叫声。简而言之，您所在国家/地区的空气污染较少，这会增加患呼吸道疾病或心脏病的机会。你也有更多的机会去散步和看风景，这意味着你可以得到更多的锻炼。根据英国政府在 2012 年进行的一项研究，减少噪音、多走路和改善空气也可以减少压力并延长预期寿命。

However, there are some things that need to be considered. Living far from the hustle and bustle of the city means that some people may feel isolated or even lonely. And as people get older, life far from doctors or public transport could become a bit of a challenge. So, if you’re considering a change of pace and moving to a picturesque village, there is a range of pros and cons to consider before taking the plunge.

但是，有一些事情需要考虑。远离城市的喧嚣意味着有些人可能会感到孤立，甚至孤独。随着人们年龄的增长，远离医生或公共交通工具的生活可能会成为一个挑战。因此，如果您正在考虑改变节奏并搬到风景如画的村庄，那么在冒险之前需要考虑一系列利弊。

词汇表

rolling hills 绵延起伏的山丘
pastures 牧场草地
idyllic 田园风光的
cottage 乡村小屋
village 乡村
get away from it all 抛开烦恼去休息、放松
pace of life 生活节奏
tranquillity 宁静
rural 农村的，乡村的
air pollution 空气污染
retreat 退隐静养的地方
life expectancy 预期寿命
hustle and bustle 喧嚣繁忙
isolated 与世隔绝的
picturesque 风景如画的
take the plunge 冒然决定尝试