I apologize in advance for the bad english.
I publish this material, because many people here do not appreciate your own well-being of North America. Life can be much worse than the United States: without public services, the Internet, health and money.
I tried to be as objective as possible in the description, because the benefits of life too is in my area. For example the beautiful views:
So, I live in Russia, almost on the border with the European Union official. Region - Pskov region, in a small village near the town of Great Luke. The small village is considered to be a settlement of 5 houses.
Pskov region, one of the most endangered regions of Russia. The main age structure of population - the elderly. Young people drank themselves or the left - there is practically no work. In this village there was a disco for young people, a boarding school for children from remote villages, schools, libraries. Now instead of them in ruins.
The truth is there are 2 grocery stores. The major revenue for them - alcohol and ritual accessories. In our place russian rednecks come from major cities on fishing and hunting. In fact, just relax and have a drink from their wives for the company. Seller salary is $ 90 a month.
In the district a lot of completely abandoned villages. Local residents were gone. Across Russia, tens of thousands of homes. Not only in the Pskov region, mainly in the European part of Russia.
But in the summer in their homes come from the city gardeners. The main flow of Look Great and Pskov. A little less of the St. Petersburg and Moscow. Such houses are empty most of the year:
In 80-90 years of the last century there sown fields of wheat. After the collapse of the Soviet Union and the planned economy, which subsidized the agriculture fields in the region albeit very slowly overgrown with birch and pine forests. In 2000, the village had about 100 inhabitants. Now people who live in the village all year round, less than 30.
Our Lake District, so long as a glimmer of life in the villages, in ponds. The remaining locals earn Woodworking industry, as well as the sale of fish.
It looks like a typical local sawmill:
Most of the area occupied by marshes here are:
Deforestation is catastrophic. Cut down the old pine and spruce forest of 60-70 years. Rebounding a forest for a long time. Among the locals ecology is not a trend. Another work there, $ 300 a month is considered a very good salary. One of the many deforestation looks like this:
Timber export timber and leave horrible potholes on the sandy road (asphalt road we have (which is sometimes leveled grader.
Typical local house is a wooden building of log wood. In cold weather, heated by a stove. Amenities in the street. Internet only through mobile operator. With the help of an external antenna can catch 3G.
Local residents do not have computers in their homes do not have a wired phone, a mobile catches only in some places.
During the Second World War, Pskov region was occupied by the Nazis. In our area were defensive and offensive battles. This is evidenced by the remains of bunkers and trench systems. In this area, the Red Army called for the entire male population. The Soviet army defeated by the amount. Therefore almost all local residents were killed in the war.
I can still write a lot about our area, but it is enough. So it goes. As they say thank you for the fish.
Many parts of Europe and even North America are like this with people moving from the periphery to the urban centers.
I suppose in Russia the problem is more pronounced with Moscow sucking up all the younger talent.
Few people realize how easy it can be to set up self-sustaining, organic communities with the help of new technologies for generating electricity, fuel, etc.
But some day these areas will be populated again...
Perhaps, but still a very long time until the capital's residents are aware of the advantages of living in the province. In Russia, the low level of culture.
Thanks for sharing. You are so right that people in places like the U.S. don't realize what they have, until they live in less developed countries, as I have done. It's sad that a once thriving village is dying out due to lack of young people. I'm glad you managed internet so you can post. Best of luck to you.