For instance, children walk to (and from) school on their own, which I think is a wonderful way for them to learn to be independent early on. This is the opposite of the usual sight in the other town where parents send and fetch their kids, even in reasonable distances.
I can relate to this. During our last trip to the province, my son was deeply moved to see students walking several kilometers home in the rain, using large taro leaves as umbrellas. He asked why their parents weren't fetching them from school, as he is accustomed to. I explained that life can be very different and that he should be thankful for not experiencing such hardship. It was a humbling encounter.
It must have been surprising for your son, but at least he learned something from what he saw.
I think it's not about hardship here, as each home has at least one car, so maybe it's just how parents train their kids, especially since the school is just nearby.