So I've been in a new community in another state far away from where I live, and it's been from one realization to another. My country service system sent me to spend a year here in a community I know nothing about but thankfully, the people here are friendly enough to get me acquainted with how things are here before I start working.
It's a small community that you could easily run into same person twice in a week, or maybe not so small but it isn't as big as where I came from and I find it cool as it kinda speaks harmony to an extent.
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From realising that they prioritize their farming businesses to education and take so much pride in conversing in their language to using the general language, all that realization didn't get me as surprised as the recent realization I found. For the past weeks I've been here, I've come to notice that they have one main form of transportation... Cycling
It's not that they don't have the flashy cars, power bikes and even bigger vehicles here but everyone of them seem to have a bike to use for some convenience I can relate with. At first, I saw a few young guys ride past me on the way to get stuffs but with time, I began to see all the range of age riding, from little kids to older women.
The community may be small but there are really long roads and bumpy ways that bicycles are a perfect fit to go through without problems, I get that's why most of them have a bicycle at home.
I was posted to teach in a school and almost all the teenagers come to school on their bicycles, it's fascinating how well and comfortable they ride their bikes. I do see them play on the long wide road while on their way to school, I enjoy the sight especially for the fact that I don't get to see this in the state where I'm from.
I wish I had taken a picture of one I witnessed some days on the street I live in, some kids seem to be having fun with their bicycles by playing a game. It seemed dangerous but so much fun, a little boy stood on his bike and tried to keep it stable, he actually won the game and from a distance, I was cheering for him.
How they see it as a normal thing for them is beautiful, if only they knew not many find bicycle rides as important again especially in the big cities even here in the state. Well, I thought I had seen it all until another sight again.
The use of bikes to work places and farm lands by older people.
While on our usual route to school, this old lady rode her bike past us, stopped to greet us with so much warmth and smiles from her face, my colleague and I had never seen her before but somehow she knew we were posted to come serve here in their community and she thought it nice to greet us before she continue riding. It was a beautiful one for me as I watch her ride away.
There seem to be more people who ride bikes than those who uses their cars and vehicles here in the community from my watch, I bet not many know the health and financial benefits of riding their bikes but I'm happy they are taking advantage of these benefits.
Who knows, I may get to ride a bike one day before I'm done with my service here. I'm sure a friend or two would have a bike that they can lend me to ride on, it's been so long I rode one... Can't wait! Hehe.
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