Summary

The article "10 Unexpected Ways Las Vegas Shaped Me" provides a personal perspective on the unique cultural, social, and environmental influences of growing up in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Abstract

The author reflects on the unconventional aspects of Las Vegas that have shaped their life, from the city's hospitality and multiculturalism to its 24/7 lifestyle and housing culture. The article highlights the peculiarities of living in a transient city with a diverse population, where gambling is a cornerstone of the economy and the weather is extreme. It also touches on the challenges of the local education system and the city's evolving culture amidst its rapid urbanization. Despite the sketchy elements of the city, the author acknowledges the development of a distinct regional identity with the arrival of new sports teams and the continuous transformation of the city's landscape.

Opinions

The author's parents, being in the casino business, have influenced their ability to make small talk and get along with diverse groups of people.
Las Vegas's diversity is noted as unusual compared to less diverse regions like New England, emphasizing the city's multicultural environment.
The author has a preference against traditional lawns and basements due to the city's desert climate, viewing them as impractical.
The 24/7 nature of Las Vegas, with its round-the-clock dining and entertainment options, has instilled unconventional eating habits in the author.
The transient nature of the city results in a lack of stable neighborhood communities, with the author accustomed to a more solitary living situation.
The author dislikes the intense summer heat of Las Vegas and longs for varied weather conditions.
Despite gambling's economic significance, the author expresses a degree of disdain for it, finding it unproductive.
The author has developed an ability to distinguish between ethnicities, particularly Hispanic and White Americans, due to the city's demographic mix.
The article criticizes Nevada's education system, noting the difficulty in trusting teachers due to underfunding and a perceived lack of accountability.
The author disagrees with the notion that Las Vegas lacks culture, asserting that the city has its own unique culture centered around casinos, entertainment, and libertarian values.
The author observes the city's growth and development, noting the positive impact of new sports franchises on Las Vegas's cultural identity and future prospects.

10 Unexpected Ways Las Vegas Shaped Me

Growing up in the city of casinos, drugs, and lots of escorts

“What the hell is he doing?” I asked my friend Manuel.

“I don’t know. Why don’t you take up his offer?” he replied.

Manuel and I were walking down the Las Vegas Strip, world-famous for its casinos and restaurants. Unfortunately, Vegas also has a homeless problem, and you’ll see a lot of homeless people panhandle on the Strip. And on the Las Vegas strip, homeless people have some of the weirdest signs.

We saw one homeless man holding a sign that said, “Kick me in the balls for $50.” And that’s not even the weirdest sign I’ve seen growing up in Las Vegas.

Growing up in Las Vegas is a weird thing. Most people in Nevada, let alone Las Vegas, weren’t born here. So there are very few actual natives in Las Vegas. As a result, there are not too many people that can actually share their childhood experiences in Sin City.

But like any other west coast city, Las Vegas has a car culture, a lot of people, and palm trees. But after moving to New England for university, I’ve noticed some unique things only Las Vegans would understand.

1. Hospitality

Both my parents are in the casino business, so they meet everyone around the world.

And when you’re working with that many types of people, you learn how to get along with all different types of people. You also get really good at small talk.

So my parents are very, very good at making small talk with anyone, as their professions require it. Over the years, I realize I picked up the skill from them: approaching the most random people and starting a conversation.

2. Multi-Cultural

Las Vegas is a very diverse city. My primary and secondary education schools were racially diverse, and everyone gets along. Any Las Vegas native will tell you it’s really weird seeing just one racial group.

But when I traveled around the New England area, everyone is usually white, which was really weird to me because it’s a bit rare to see one race in Las Vegas. However, a lot of people who grew up in the New England area are used to that, which baffled me.

3. Housing Culture

Las Vegas houses have a particular style. For example, a lawn in Vegas is super weird. Watering a lawn is a waste of water in the desert. Basements are also a no-go. It’s hard to cut deep into the desert foundation to make a solid foundation for a basement. So I really don’t prefer having lawns, seeing them as an unnecessary decoration.

4. 24/7 Eating Habits

Things don’t close early in Vegas. Restaurants. Movie Theaters. Bowling Alleys. Nothing. It took me a while, but I realize most parts of the country close a lot earlier than Vegas. And when nothing closes, you have a 24/7 eating habit. My friends and I would drive to the local casino to bowl at midnight and get the steak and eggs deal.

5. Having no neighbors

It’s a transient city. New Yorkers come because it’s too expensive on the east coast. Californians come because it’s too expensive in San Francisco. And people move in temporarily for jobs.

Growing up in the Vegas suburb, having actual neighbors is weird. For starters, it’s really hot, so nobody ever goes out to socialize. Secondly, the houses are divided by brick walls, so those don’t really optimize socializing.

A lot of retired people also live in Las Vegas, usually from the Midwest. These so-called “snowbirds” leave the Midwest in the winter and stay in Las Vegas, where they have homes in the suburbs.

Since I usually had no neighbors around, I’m used to living in a more secluded residence.

6. Weather Preferences

I hate the sun. It’s so bloody hot in Vegas during the summer. And throughout your time in Vegas, you wait for the rain or snow to come.

7. (Kinda) Hate Gambling

Don’t get me wrong. Gambling basically makes up our state’s economy. But gambling isn’t the most productive hobby and having it all around you gets kinda old.

8. Guessing Ethnicities

Specifically, Hispanics and whites. Even though they’re both European-descent, not all white people are Hispanics, and not all Hispanics look white. But when I see a pale-skinned person, I could usually tell if they’re White American or Hispanic American.

9. Weird Teachers

Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash

Nevada has one of the worst school systems in the country. There’s never enough funding to schools or enough teachers.

Teachers in Las Vegas are a mixed bag. And some of them are plain out weird. One of my high school teachers told me it’s impossible to get teachers fired unless they violate one of the “S:” stealing or sexual harassment.

Because of this, it was hard trusting teachers, especially if you know your math teacher is also your gym teacher.

10. (Sorta) No Culture

Everybody says Las Vegas has no culture. And I heavily disagree. Our culture is the following: casinos, hotels, shows, a few sports teams, firearms, and overall libertarian culture. Now it’s a not very sophisticated culture, compared to Europe’s high culture, with its museums, art galleries, and theater. But anybody who grew up in Vegas is going to have a unique mindset, supporting gambling, strip clubs, and a lot of seedy shit, as it makes up a huge chunk of our economy. I highly doubt people in the Bible Belt will support gambling as Las Vegans do.

Las Vegas Urbanization. 1972–2010. Source: NASA

Later that night, some old white guy came up to us and asked, “Hey, wanna come and party?”

Instead of answering, we both quickly ran away, only to be bothered again later that night.

“Come on! I just wanna be friends!” This random homeless guy shouted at us.

“The Strip only gets sketchier every year,” Manuel said. But it’s always been sketchy, with billboards sponsoring escorts, druggies running around, and people wearing SpongeBob Squarepants costumes.

Despite its sketchiness, Las Vegas has been booming in recent years. With the arrival of the Golden Knights and Raiders, the city has been developing its own regional culture and identity. Every time I return to Las Vegas, the city looks different each time, and with each passing year, the future for Las Vegas is brighter.