Holidays and Casual Choices

For Mr. Tran Du (from An Giang, currently living and working in Binh Duong province), this year's holiday is not a time to return to his hometown or have family meals. Instead, it is a sad silence. He suffers from complications of gout, varicose veins in the lower limbs, and knee osteoarthritis, making it difficult to move around. "I was walking normally, but suddenly I got sick and had to take a day off work. Being home alone is sad. My colleagues called to ask how I was, and I called them back to tease them for fun, but staying home all the time is very stressful" - he expressed. Memories of his childhood in the countryside still come back to him whenever he feels empty, the image of the sweet tamarind tree by the ditch, the star apple trees that his grandmother planted, the times he went swimming in the river, gathering with friends... If his health improves, he plans to return to his hometown, "hang out" with his brothers to have a drink...

The holiday season is also the time when workers in the transport industry are busier than ever. Mr. Nguyen Minh Trung (a driver of a passenger bus company in An Giang) said: "On big holidays, the demand for passenger travel is very high. Driving through the night is normal." On average, Mr. Trung has one day off per week, and spends almost all of his time driving. Although the work is hard, he does not feel deprived.

As the big holiday approaches, Long Xuyen streets are bustling with people and vehicles, signaling the bustling time of travel and shopping is approaching.

“This job is like that. My family understands so they don’t blame me. During the holidays, my salary is doubled, which is considered compensation. I remember last year’s holiday, there was a young girl who forgot to bring money to buy a ticket. She stood at the bus station confused, not knowing what to do. My bus assistants and I pooled our money to buy her a ticket to Chau Doc City. She was very touched, and after the ceremony, I called her back to thank her. Helping someone makes me feel relieved,” he shared. If he had a complete vacation, he would like to stay home to eat with his wife and children, and have a good night’s sleep. He would take everyone home to reunite, but he himself rarely has such an opportunity. Perhaps that’s why he cherishes the peaceful moments even more!

While many streets are crowded with people and vehicles on the days leading up to the holidays, few people pay attention to the team of workers who keep the city clean and tidy. Ms. Ngo Thi Hoang (An Giang Urban Environment Joint Stock Company) regularly starts her shift at 5am and ends in the late afternoon. Even on holidays, the work remains the same, even more. “During holidays, there is more trash than usual, we have to come back to collect it many times a day. We work until 4:30pm before taking a break,” she said. When asked if she was sad because she didn’t get a break like everyone else, she just smiled: “I’m used to it. During holidays, the streets are crowded, there is more trash, so I have to work harder. I feel happy just cleaning up so people can walk comfortably without having to step on trash.”

“During the holidays, we sell as usual. There are more customers on holidays because people are free to go shopping. Everyone signs up to work because their salary is tripled. If I have a few days off, I want to go home to visit my mother and have a home-cooked meal. I don’t need to go far,” said Le Thi Tuyen (a saleswoman at a supermarket chain in Long Xuyen City).

Each person’s holiday takes on a different shape. Some people travel far away, some choose to stay, and some cannot choose because of health or livelihood. But in those stories, we encounter simplicity, responsibility, and a quiet, yet profound love of life. Because sometimes, a holiday is not in a luxurious place, but a moment of rest after a day of work, a family meal, or a call to check in on relatives. And that, for them, is more than enough.

AN TABLET

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/ky-nghi-le-va-nhung-lua-chon-binh-di-a419550.html