When someone who has lived in a big city for a long time first sets foot in Nebraska, their mental state is shaken.

Would you believe that the confusion arises because nothing is happening?

People coming from cities like New York, LA, or Chicago are always processing thoughts amidst noise. The sounds of cars, voices, notifications, and an overload of choices. But when they arrive in Nebraska, that background noise suddenly turns off. It's so quiet that at first, their ears feel numb.

The first shock comes from the pace of life. Everything is slow, from banks to the DMV to hospital appointments. Standing there with an urgent expression makes one seem odd. In big cities, quick service is seen as courteous, but in Nebraska, taking it slow is the norm. This is where the first mental shake occurs. Am I wasting time right now, or have I been living too hurriedly all this time?

The second realization is the lack of choices. In a big city, choosing a restaurant can be exhausting, but in Nebraska, options are few. Even when opening delivery apps, there aren't many choices. At first, it feels inconvenient. But after a few days, the dilemma itself disappears. Instead, other thoughts arise. Questions like how did I spend my day, what do I like? At this moment, the mental state shakes again. It becomes clear that I have been postponing thoughts by relying on choices.

The distance between people is also different. In Nebraska, even strangers strike up conversations. In elevators, at grocery store checkouts, at gas stations. For someone from a big city, it's confusing whether this is friendliness or intrusion. It makes one feel tense, wondering why there is so little personal space. But as time passes, the opposite feels strange. It becomes odd when no one talks to you. At this point of change, the mental state shakes once more.

When night falls, another shock comes. The absence of lights and the abundance of stars in the sky initially feel surreal. In big cities, there's no rest for the eyes even at night, but here, one's gaze naturally shifts upward. At that moment, a strange emptiness arises. Even when not busy, the mind cannot stay still. Not knowing how to fill that void is the moment that city dwellers find most challenging.

The reason for the mental shake in Nebraska is not because it is difficult here. Rather, it is because it is too simple. There are no comparisons, no hiding places. The ways of proving oneself through achievements or speed do not apply. Consequently, what remains is oneself. The moment one faces that directly, everyone shakes at least once.

However, once you get through that shaking, your thoughts change. Nebraska is not a place that breaks people; it is closer to a place that strips away the unnecessary one by one. The mental state brought from the big city may just creak a bit here. This process may feel unfamiliar and uncomfortable, but it can be seen as a place with the quiet power to change a person.