Part 6/9:
Returning to Los Angeles was unlike anything I had expected. The reverse culture shock was potent and swift. From the airplane, the sprawling cityscape of LA looked distinctly inefficient. The stark contrast in urban planning became glaringly evident—a system designed for vehicles rather than for pedestrians or cyclists. My observations about the abundance of homeless encampments felt alarming; I had only encountered a handful during my two-week journey through Europe, whereas my return to LA brought me face-to-face with disturbing realities that many seem to turn a blind eye to.