"The most important pleasure - to do what, in the opinion of others, you won't be able to do" (U. Bedzhat)

One winter, still warm evening, while walking through my favorite city, I came across a bright poster "Work & Travel". Oh, no, dear, this is not for you. You can't get away from the city for the weekend, and here's America. And, sighing, I walked on.

The next morning, having completely forgotten about the unattainable dream, I got stuck in a traffic jam. With nothing else to do (we'll be standing here for at least an hour anyway) I began to look at the advertisements. Sales, discounts, driving courses... And what's this? My gaze fell on the bright poster I had seen yesterday. Eh... Deciding there was nothing more interesting anyway, I moved closer to the ad and began to study it. Trying on all the candidate requirements, I realized I fit all of them except one - English. I studied German before university. There was no more hope, my mood was ruined for the whole day. What day — for life!

Regretting that I had ever seen that poster, I trudged to work. My friend, seeing my gloomy mood, began to ask about everything. As I continued my story her eyes grew wider and wider, a spark flashed...

...A week later we signed the contract. A week after that we paid the first installment and enrolled in courses. Friends reacted skeptically to our zeal: "You shouldn't have started this, you won't succeed, it's all a scam." Despite this, we took the risk!

Then the DS form arrived, then payment of the second installment and finally the long-awaited and exciting letter in the mail. April 6. How quickly time flies! Putting aside all tasks and closing our eyes to the cheerfully winking sun outside the window, we sat down to review English.

...Station, train, carriage. Seven hours on the road and we are in Yekaterinburg. We thought we'd sleep and have time to review. Ha, we were mistaken. Not at all! Our fellow passengers turned out to be a very talkative and merry group of boys who were going to study. In the end, we didn't sleep a minute, but at least we reviewed something — all together!

Yeah... How cold it is. The thermometer shows 0, after yesterday's +15. I find out I'm last on the list. Mood below zero... Three hours until the interview. Waiting. They let the first 10 people in, my friend among them. Half an hour more and the visa will be in her pocket! Mood rises. That's a plus. Finally my turn comes. Forgetting all the advice of coordinator Marina, I go into the warmth. The security is delightful, explains everything, shows. It gets warmer. Metal detector, 4th floor, second metal detector, fingerprints and... the waiting room. Another 15 minutes and the consul pronounces my surname. Thank goodness he pronounced it correctly! Here it is, the long-awaited nerve-wracking moment!

Hello!

Good morning, sir!

Are you Ksyusha?

Yes )))

Well, what do you want to do in America?

Work and relax

What will you work as and where?

My brain calmly digests the phrases and gives ready answers, probably because of the nerves ) Here he asks

Are you an external (correspondence) student?

Evening student

And here he tells me

Let's do this in Russian, I don't understand your education system.

I'm in shock

Fine.

Why do you study several times a week? What do you do the rest of the time? Why is it your first year, but you are already in the third year?

Then he types something into the computer and answers me:

Unfortunately, your visa cannot be approved. Maybe next year...

My smile turned into an upside-down emoticon. There it is, the dream, one step away from me. And everything collapses in an instant. And then, without expecting it from myself, I say:

No. I will not try next year. Why are you refusing me? (I myself understand that these conversations are pointless). I study three times a week, during the year. In my free time I work. I enrolled after college, so immediately into the third year. I study 516 hours per semester; that's like a full-time student.

He begins to doubt, asks me additional questions. What do you want to gain in America and are you going for a long time? Then he presses Delete, removes the refusal paper, looks through the passport and signs the DS form, stamps it!!!!

Well, Ksenia. Your visa is approved. Have a good summer! (Smile)

I'm in shock! I think I'll kiss him now! Grinning from ear to ear, I thank him, wish him a good day and fly away from there!

I still can't believe I did it! And no one believes it. But yes yes yes, My visa aproved! My joy knows no bounds! Now my dream is one month away from me and four months away from my homeland!

So, my dears, fight for your dream! Believe in yourself and you will definitely succeed. As it worked out for me.

"When you want something badly, the whole Universe will conspire to help your desire come true"

(P. Coelho "The Alchemist")