Simple Pleasures

One of the big differences between Vietnam and the U.S. deals with recreation & leisure.  Everybody has some free time, but we spend it in very different ways.  In the U.S., people are more sophisticated, or at least pretend to be so.  Golfing is a perfect example.  Years ago, only doctors and lawers played golf.  Now, it seems as if everybody and their brother are hitting the links on a regular basis.  And those who are not want to be.  Nothing wrong with golf if you like status sports.  How much of your recreation is similar to activities done by poor people?  We tend to avoid it like the plague.

Many Vietnamese are satisfied with the simple pleasures of life - eating, socializing, drinking, playing games and activities.  Every night women are in the courtyard practicing Tai Chi and young people are singing, practicing dance moves, or playing hackey-sack.  Men are playing cards or checkers.  Yesterday, I judged some college students who participated in an English-speaking contest - over 3 hours.  You would have to be here to truly appreciate the simple life. And they seem to be content.     

Here's my thought.  Americans used to do the same things before we became rich.  If Vietnamese had money they probably would be doing something else too.  Wealth tends to "elevate" our tastes.  Technology rules, but it takes money to purchase the latest gadgets.  And the demand is insatiable.  Are we really happy?  If so, why are we never satisfied?  Our cuture is moving, but in what direction?  Go ahead, call me a naysayer.  But I've seen the other side of the coin.