The Strangeness of Normalcy

Sir, this is not a park spot, 2021

Do you also have moments when the most usual things suddenly feel unusual, sparking introspection? Like when the door knob you thoughtlessly turn every day feels unfamiliar in your hand. You become aware of the odd societal agreement that we turn locks to the right rather than left. Or when your cereal, that consistent morning meal, tastes foreign on your tongue. You irrationally wonder if the formula has changed, despite knowing it hasn't.

These moments are strange yet make me feel alive. I had one such experience recently while driving home from Koreatown one evening. I became aware of the mechanics of the car. I could vividly feel the vibration of the wheels on the asphalt concrete below me. This sense of speed evoked a primal fear within me, thinking that we've collectively agreed to ignore the inherent dangers of driving for the convenient transportation it provides.

Contemplating my fear in that driving moment made me consider the future of transportation technology. Nowadays, I frequently see news about AI-driven cars and taxi drones soon to be available to the public. I personally welcome self-driving vehicles, trusting inhuman technology over flawed human reactions. This would also allow us to use commute time more meaningfully, especially in unfortunate cities like Los Angeles with poor public transportation. One question remains, however: how long will it take for developing countries to access this emerging technology? And what societal impacts, positive or negative, will it have? The future remains opaque. In the meantime, these brief moments of awareness, both mundane and profound, are opportunities to see the world anew.