6.

Housing

In a city it’s easier to find a job and there are more possibilities for spending your free time.
Specialised health services are more easily accessible and there are big hypermarkets and
plazas with a wide variety of goods. In cities there are more banks, post offices and all kinds
of
services. On the other hand, the air is polluted, the streets are dirty and noisy, there is more
crime, and life is too hectic.
In a village life is more peaceful, the air is clean, there are flowers and trees everywhere and
people know each other. People are friendlier, they always have the time for a chat, and they
are willing to help each other. The disadvantages are that the infrastructure is not so
developed, the number of services is generally smaller, and you may have to commute to
make your living. If you need to contact the authorities because of some administrative
matters, you have to travel to the nearest city, and it can take all day.
In villages most people live in a family house, though there may be some blocks in the centre.
In town centres there are blocks of flats and apartment houses, and on the outskirts there are
big housing estates with prefabricated buildings. In the green belt you can find detached,
semi-detached and terraced houses.
The English prefer living in houses and hate high-rise buildings. In most English towns you
can find terraced houses built from red brick.
Living in a high-rise block of flats has problems. Families feel isolated and lonely. There is
not much contact with the neighbours. The children have nowhere to play. The old people
have to depend on the elevator to reach the outside world.
On the other hand it may be problem with the neighbours because of noises. In these building
the sealant is bad and the walls are thin.
In my opinion owning a flat is better because it’s a good investment and more secure than
living in a rented flat. If you rent a flat, the owners can ask you to leave any time while if you
live in your flat, you can stay there for all your life.
We can get flat or house in many ways; we can buy it in a lump, but it is rare because a flat or
a house is very expensive. If we don’t have enough money we’ll get on credit. In this case we
pay the amount and interests monthly for a long time.
In a town there is a wide variety of services and different kinds of facilities such as shopping,
entertainment and employment. Public transport is also more widely available than it is in the
country. The buses run frequently, and it doesn’t take long to get to the nearest bus stop.
However, there are very few green areas or parks where you can enjoy the fresh air.
Some parts of towns are neglected, dirty and even dangerous. Life is often stressful because of
the rush hours, heavy traffic and the noise.
Life is more peaceful and quiet in a village. People care more about each other and they have
closer contacts. They can enjoy the fresh air, the gentle peace of living. Life is not so hectic,
people are more relaxed. In the lives of village people things such as their garden, growing
plants and getting on well with neighbours are important. On the other hand, there are fewer
places to go to and to work at, and sometimes education and healthcare are not easily
available.