I’m back in the states for holidays but this time it was such a shock to realize everything looks so old, like from the airport to the convenience stores, malls, gas stations, etc. Why does everything look like it hasn’t changed from the 90s? And I was out just for a couple of months but things look newer and shinier in Panama and El Salvador compared to here. I cannot even imagine what some of you coming back from east Asia must feel. Did our country peak in the 90s and other countries are going through their renaissance? I love the convenience of the US where everything is open 24 hrs and you can get things delivered to your door basically overnight if you pay the price but I feel like we’re stuck with very old and boring infrastructure, makes me feel almost the same way I felt when I went to eastern Europe
I think this depends entirely on where you are. I’m from the Phoenix metro area, which has more than doubled in population since the 90s with millions of new inhabitants. From my experience, stuff looks nicer every time I go back. The area around my old university looks MUCH shinier and newer than it did when I was a student (completely unrecognizable in some areas), downtown areas in several metro-area cities have been revitalized, etc. I find Arizona to be more developed every time I go back. I found it felt newer and more modern than most of where I went to in Europe (though old looking Europe is part of the charm).
My friend from Ohio has the opposite experience. Every time he returns to Cleveland, it’s older and worse than it was before. I think this experience very much depends on where you’re from.
Interesting bc Cleveland probably has more new construction now than ever
It seems like the new buildings are just shiny boxes. No imagination or interesting architecture in most places (in the PNW where I am - not sure about Cleveland)
Exactly. “The US” really isn’t a useful unit to compare, like, how many pretty new buildings you see.
That’s true, Phoenix does have some impressive, shiny new buildings. The new Intel factory being a standout example. The infrastructure is solid. The airport and light rail are shiny and new.
It has its share of ugly areas, but as a whole I think the city is well-managed and modern.