Leaving the Suburbs and Moving to the Country

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Life for a suburban teenager is a whole other world when moving to the country.
Life for a suburban teenager is a whole other world when moving to the country.
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High school student Corrie Ryder submitted a report chronicling her moving to the country and leaving the suburbs behind.
High school student Corrie Ryder submitted a report chronicling her moving to the country and leaving the suburbs behind.
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A teen gains construction confidence working on the country home.
A teen gains construction confidence working on the country home.

A teenager shares her story about leaving the suburbs and moving to the country.

When her high school English teacher asked the class to write about their passions, 17-year-old Corrie Ryder submitted this report. It chronicles her choice to abandon her routine life in the suburbs and moving to the country for the challenges and rewards of country living.

At my house, deep in the woods outside of Parsonsfield, Maine, we don’t stay up very late. We don’t watch television much either, or spend useless hours glued to a computer screen. It’s probably been a few months since I’ve heard the ching! of a toaster telling me my toast is done, or the annoying beep of a microwave after it pops my popcorn.

In fact, the only sounds you’ll usually ever hear around my house might he the sound of chickens crowing, my brother and I bickering, or occasionally, the coyotes singing their hearts out under the dazzling starlight. It’s amazing how quiet and calm things become when you live without on demand electricity and spend your days hidden like a secret, miles into the woods. It makes you realize how really chaotic and impatient modern life can be, and how wonderful and peaceful nature is.

The summer I learned to live without electricity, pavement and nothing but my family in a 16×16-foot house marked the beginning of many astounding discoveries and experiences for me. First, I found that living off the grid wasn’t very hard; it was actually quite fun. I also discovered the magic and power in nature, an inspiring experience I will never forget. Last, I learned the love, support and comfort of having your family become your best friends, a bond not broken, but woven tighter, even after small — or big — arguments.

  • Published on Apr 1, 2003
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