Being born and raised in a small village of around 500 people, my experience is extremely different from most of the people I meet at college. Those from villages don't do the same things for fun, we don't have the same kinds of relationships with others around us and we can't walk anywhere because it's always too far. Here are a few things my former classmates and I came up with that only those who grew up in a village will relate to:
1. Your graduating class is smaller than 100 people.
When you’re from a village, often many different villages all attend the same school. Even when more than one village went to your school, it’s still so small that you definitely have a tiny graduating class. Most likely your school is K-12 so you’ve known almost everyone in your class for most of your life. Everyone knows your secrets (like that you peed your pants in the third grade). It sucks, but at least you know that you probably shouldn’t make Wendy laugh so hard that she pees again because her bladder is really small.
2. Everyone is related in some way or another.
If you find someone that you can’t connect your family tree to, you jump on the opportunity to date them. The dating pool is small, but at least it exists.
4. You literally know people by their car.
Driving around means you will pass someone you know, and you’ll probably know it’s them before you even see their face. This is an issue if you’re trying to avoid the person. Hiding from someone, in general, is incredibly difficult when you live in a village.
5. Everyone knows you and your parents.
Don’t even think about doing something wrong, because if you’re caught by ANY adult they very likely went to school with at least one of your parents. They definitely have each others’ phone numbers, and your parents will know everything that happened before you even have time to get home.
6. You are friends with your teachers.
You probably had the same teacher for more than one subject and/or year, and each of your teachers knew you and all your siblings by name. You might also get compared to your siblings. However, being friends with your teachers isn’t a bad thing; let’s admit it, they were all hilarious! (You might even add them on Facebook after you graduate like I did!)
7. Your teacher is also your coach.
Bad grades and being in sports don’t go together because all of your coaches are teachers. They all know how you are doing in school. Luckily since they are all so great, most are willing to help if you put in the effort!
8. You were in 800 clubs and didn't die.
At a small school, all the club advisors know each other and most are willing to work with you even if schedules conflict. This definitely still leads to some long nights when you have to go from class to cheer to show choir to musical. Phew! Let me tell you, it’s not as easy in college.
9. There is low diversity and openmindedness.
It is a small area, and with that comes a lot of like-mindedness. You wish you could’ve been more exposed to different people and cultures, but you also know that everyone thinking the same probably makes life easier. Or maybe you do realize that your life is very sheltered and you’re trying to learn about new cultures now! Yay you! Get educated!10. You're always surrounded by fields.
Leave your house: field. Go to school: field. Drive to any size city: fields the entire way there. It’s just a lot of fields.
11. You have to drive at least 20 minutes to get to fast food.
If you’re feeling Chipotle or McDonald's, the drive is probably gonna be 20 minutes or so. Don’t even consider shopping for anything but food unless you plan to make an entire half-day trip out of it because that trip might take you an hour. Things that seem so simple for city-dwellers are thought-out plans for us living in villages.
12. You explain your village as "30 minutes from" some city.
In my life I've only met a handful of people that live more than 20 minutes away from my Village but know where it is. At this point, when people ask where I'm from I describe it as a distance from some large city. Often people will reply, "what's it called though?" Then, once I tell them, they realize why I just described it as a distance from a city. It's a village. I doubt you've ever heard of it.
13. You complain about it all the time, but you love your village.
When I lived in my village, I absolutely hated it, but now I see the great opportunities that I would’ve had nowhere else. Now living in a city, I realize everything I took for granted. I love cities, but villages aren’t all bad either.
City life is great, but sometimes we all have to get back to our village roots. Don't forget what made you who you are.