Essay: The International Import

Cécile Rischmann shares a poignant essay that captures the youthful imagination and unexpected realities beautifully in words.

Nation’s Pride wasn’t working for the wallflowers. It was time to take the pen pal dream international. So, what if we were still in green pinafores and pigtails? Beautiful One was, too. Yet her stunning features were hitting the mark while we were wasting time on Shakespeare and Thesaurus’s relatives. Too much anticipation, too much waiting—and when we finally met the authors behind the prose, we developed a mild but lasting aversion to advanced English. 

The international magazine arrived, carrying hope, hormones, and promises that really should have come with a disclaimer. 

We rolled out the red carpet for the postman, complete with high tea and restored dignity. He was thrilled to be back in our good books. We raced to our terrace, magazine held between us, opened it reverently, and sighed aloud.