American High School
There is a girl from Denmark called Cornelia, and she is lovely. Cornelia has blue eyes and strawberry hair. She came to the USA last year as an exchange student. Backstage, before a theatre performance, Cornelia told me all the things most exciting and surprising about America: hot Cheetos! She shined at the mention of dating and boisterous, bubbly teenagers. Prom and milkshakes and varsity jackets; football and parties and pancakes; big tests and big mouths and big dreams. In fact, she has a whole YouTube video on her exchange student experience - you can watch it here . I've been thinking a lot about the stereotypical high school experience, media portrayals of the same, and how they compare to my own. There are glaring stadium lights, paper airplanes. I picture Sam and Patrick and Charlie having a late-night meal at Kings, and Lady Bird, emotional, in a Sacramento car. Cassette tapes. There are Heathers (the movie) and Heather (Conan Gray). Boxed wine, cheap beer. It's all