I’m an international student and I didn’t expect the stereotypes about US colleges to be true, but here we are

After nine years of living and studying in Europe and Asia, I decided to come back to my home country for college. Although the language and geography were familiar to me, I was shocked and confused by many of the patterns and habits of the people I saw. Here are some of the things I least expected about coming back to the US for college.

Solo cups – just like the movies

In stereotypical American party movies, there are always dozens of red plastic cups – and only red plastic cups – floating from hand to hand. I often wondered why their filmmakers were so lazy, picking the same prop for everyone… until I realized Solo® had a legitimate monopoly over American college party cups.

Holidays – over-the-top everything

Thanksgiving, Memorial Day, Mother’s Day, you-name-it – no one works; there are designated songs, art projects, and parades; and there’s always a wall of noisy, flashing Hallmark Cards for it. Not to mention the empty, digital ways in which college kids celebrate birthdays (we all know you look better than the birthday girl in that #hbd picture, Martha).

Consumerism – buy, buy, buy

We live in a capitalist world, but no one does consumerism like American college students. There’s no such thing as just meeting up – we need to buy tickets, meals, and clothes, rent segways or bowling balls. If I can’t put something on my Story, did we even really hang out?

Movies – basically a date?

Perhaps the most treacherous and unnecessary of these goods are movie tickets. I can’t count how many times I’ve gone to the cinema despite having friends with Netflix subscriptions, some of whom have seen the movie before, and who end up complaining about other people in the theater. At least movies make every meet-up feel like a terrible date.

Party music – pop, hip-hop, or bust

Despacito! Now that that song is inescapably on repeat in your head, you may as well be turning up in your friend’s dorm room. I appreciate that pop and hip-hop are the biggest hits and crowd-pleasers in this country, but is there no value to any other genre anymore?! I feel like I’m trapped in a radio station every time I go to an American party.

Home – crazy but cozy

Despite the wild and the unexpected, my American college has quickly become a home, due in no small part to its national culture of friendliness and open-mindedness. In the end, I’m grateful for everything this country and its colleges have to offer – plastic cups, holiday cards, and all.