I decided to quit my job and headed home due to a tough breakup and a growing sense of dissatisfaction with my job, hoping that a change of pace might bring a fresh perspective.
My family situation was also a big factor. I am my parents’ only son and my sister had already married and moved far away. I knew I would eventually inherit my parents’ farm, house and land, so I wanted to try out the countryside lifestyle.
My first month there was mostly spent adjusting to the slower pace of life. My prior visits to my hometown were only for short stays during holidays, so I had never had to adapt to rural life.
In my hometown, most families finish dinner around sunset and most cafes and eateries close by 9 p.m., after which the streets are deserted.
Most families start the day at 5 a.m. or even as early as 2 a.m. during harvest seasons. This might not be for everyone and if it is work stress or personal troubles driving you away from the city, maybe a road trip or vacation is a better option.
Then there is the day-to-day work. With few family members around to pitch in, we hired labor to manage the rice fields. My dad and I only handled choosing and soaking the seeds, while seeding, spraying, fertilizing, and planting were all done by hired hands. Even the produce is picked up by merchants right at our farm. Farming has become less labor-intensive, but outsourcing means profits are also lower.
Over time, I began to realize that while there are success stories in agriculture, most require grit, ongoing learning, and the courage to try out new things. But the majority of people here prefer sticking to familiar routines, favoring tradition over change.
At one point, I tried to nurture chickens but my mother said ducks were easier to raise. So I decided to try raising twenty ducklings, and thankfully, not one of them died. But the process required more time and energy than I had anticipated.
After a year, I decided to give up on inheriting the farm and return to the city, blending back into my previous fast-paced, bustling life. Nearly a year in the countryside helped me realize that my future may not lie here, even though I was raised in this same setting.
Switching from office work to a life of farming is not easy. For anyone thinking about returning to the countryside to live and farm, I hope my story offers some perspective.
What do you think about my experience?
*This opinion was translated into English with the assistance of AI. Readers’ views are personal and do not necessarily match VnExpress’ viewpoints.
