One datpoint; I visited Nepal in 2016 and was overwhelmed by the general baseline happiness of everyone there. Everyone smiled. Then contrast returning to the W

One datpoint; I visited Nepal in 2016 and was overwhelmed by the general baseline happiness of everyone there. Everyone smiled. Then contrast returning to the West was stark. I went back in 2023 and while it's not gone it's waned. The only other major difference I noticed when I went back is even in the more remote villages everyone has a phone.