1. Summer 2010. Crete. Speaking English, I felt like I possessed magic. I understood people, and they understood me.
   Philippe. We chatted for several hours a day. A Belgian, he knew 4 languages. And I made a promise to myself to learn French. And to brush up on my English.

Dutch, Italians, Swiss, Greeks, Belgians... behind each of these people stood an entire country with its own traditions and principles. I decided that I had to visit everywhere.

2. I had a falling out with my best friend. And we didn't speak for several months. I had a lot of free time that I previously spent with her.

3. Mountaineering. Rushing off in October 2010 with mountaineers to Kush-Kaya in Crimea, I had no idea who I would meet there. I went alone, knowing only the coach (a little bit) and a couple of other people (very superficially from the previous year, when we went together with that very friend). I was scared right up until the moment I met these amazing people of all ages. Already there, we were joined by an ideal yogi man who had lived for months and years in all corners of the globe, and a cheerful group of guys, one of whom, I think, knew everything in the world. Avid travelers, adventurers, storytellers. From the first evening of talking with them, I realized that from now on my hottest dream was to travel the world. And to know languages. Because knowing a foreign language is magic. Am I repeating myself?:)

4. An idea appeared to go study abroad for a year, in connection with which I went to an international education exhibition at the Radisson. I walked around a bunch of tables and completely by accident stumbled upon the organization Startravel. They suggested I come to their meeting and learn about a program called Work and Travel. Grabbing a friend, I went.
   The idea captivated me, and my head was just spinning from the photos and pictures! Yes! This is where I can start! Mom reacted extremely positively - she just urged me to search the internet and ask acquaintances. It turned out that a bunch of people from my native MIET had gone to America! Including my own friend! Although the friend swore afterwards that he would never set foot there again. It's his own fault. He went through Aloha.

I visited their office, after which I firmly decided that they were perfect. Although later I did look for info. The mildest comment about this wonderful organization was "Aloha is for suckers".

I stumbled upon IEC. Since then, the decision became irrevocable. Even when the parents of my friend Nadya categorically rejected the idea for their daughter. At first, I also wanted to refuse, but my own mother admitted with such feeling how infinitely she envied this opportunity of mine that I made up my mind.

I went and filled out the application.

Nadya also realized in time that she wouldn't survive my stories after the trip and got carried away with the idea of earning money on her own.

So we both ended up as waitresses at Yakitoriya. Although we didn't last long there, it was enough to pay the 1st installment.

By January-February, her parents came to terms with the fact that we were flying. The two of us. To America!