After spending five years living abroad, the speaker reflects on how their perspective on the United States has significantly changed, highlighting aspects of US culture that feel "toxic af" compared to other developed nations. They contrast the proactive and caring response of the Taiwanese government to a natural disaster with the chaotic and fragmented reaction to wildfires in California, suggesting a difference in how governments handle crises. The speaker also expresses a profound realization of the lack of safety and prevalence of disturbing events that have become normalized in the US, a stark contrast to the feeling of security experienced while living elsewhere. This newfound understanding of what safety feels like makes returning to the US challenging, as they feel a constant need to be on guard.