Writer: Aspen Haw Photographer: Jalin Cerrillo Given its global spotlight, the United States claims a unique position of influence. Movies and news coverage can stir up positive or negative excitement, especially for international students with their sights set on an American education. But is this country’s self-portrayal accurate to their experience? While media is informative, it can create discrepancies between perceived reality and actual life in the U.S. For international students, these gaps lead to culture shock, resulting in a rocky start to their life in America. FILM: DISTORTION OF SOCIETY Sophomore business administration major Dena Rahel was born and raised in Indonesia. Her family had high praise for the…