15 Things I Thought Were Normal In America Because Hollywood Told Me So

Growing up in Colombia, movies were basically my only window into American life. Whatever I saw on screen, I’d take as the absolute truth, and let me tell you: Hollywood had me fully convinced the U.S.A. was this hyper-polished, over-the-top, glossy version of reality where everything was bigger, cleaner, and somehow perfectly timed. Looking back at the films I used to watch, it’s really no wonder why I grew up holding some very wild assumptions — but as a now-22-year-old American resident, I honestly can’t help but laugh at how wrong (and hilarious) most of my beliefs were back in the day.

1.

I thought everyone exclusively drank out of red Solo cups at parties.

2.

I assumed every kid owned a bicycle and rode it everywhere.

3.

I really did believe high schoolers actually stood on cafeteria tables when they meant serious business.

4.

I thought everyone in Texas owned a cowboy hat and went to rodeos.

5.

I genuinely thought lockers were this huge, life-defining thing, and that decorating them was a non-negotiable rite of passage.

6.

I believed everyone had a basement and that half of them were haunted.

7.

I assumed cheerleaders actually ran the entire school.

8.

I was convinced that people with minimum-wage jobs could still live in huge apartments.

9.

I assumed everyone went all out decorating their house for the holidays.

10.

I thought every high school had cliques that actually sat together like a real-life zoo exhibit.

11.

I was convinced every teenage boy in California went surfing before school.

12.

I was under the impression that teens all got brand-new cars for their 16th birthday.

13.

I thought every house came with a walk-in closet.

14.

I seriously believed there was nothing more important than for a girl to be crowned Prom Queen.

15.

I thought every American family ate dinner together every night at 6 p.m. sharp.