20 years of dreaming, 7131 kilometers, 14 hours on the road... But, after all, dreams do come true. In such moments, a clear realization comes that the world is not as big as it seems, especially when you, a small person from a small Belarus, find yourself in the universe you enjoyed through movies, felt through books, and heard the melody of through music.

I, of course, dreamed of California, but it didn't occupy every cell of my brain while I was looking for a job and, consequently, a city. Although hearing real Californian punk right there would have been legendary. In the end, fate threw me into a small town on the Cape Cod peninsula, Wellfleet. To tell the truth, I had never heard of it before I received a job offer. What is this unknown corner like? Actually, Americans are quite familiar with it: every summer, in cars whose price tag is better left unsaid, they flock to these very villages of Cape Cod to tan on some of the best beaches in the country and eat fresh seafood in restaurants staffed by J-1 visa holders from all over the world. Summer on the peninsula takes on a special charm (no wonder, in winter the population drops by two hundred percent).

I could admire this view every day.

First impression: is it really deceptive?

A tricky question. What do 20-year-old students need during time not occupied by boring lectures, and in America at that? In my opinion, they want parties with red cups from the movies, and communication, lots of communication. But this is Wellfleet! This means you are surrounded by cute 50+ couples, soulful peace, fresh air, and gorgeous beach views. And while the clean sea air was good for the body, the soul, after resting, demanded authentic parties, which I will mention later. That's how we encountered this measured and calm life: work in the morning, a choice between sleeping in bed and relaxing on the sand by the ocean in the afternoon, then a walk, dinner, and finally, sleep. And where did that dream go? Did it really stay in Belarus? Time passes, and it becomes clear that it's not just about the place of stay, but also about having a company of like-minded people. A tip: if you want to have the most exciting time, never be shy about meeting people, otherwise you risk spending the whole summer under a blanket. Bottom line: enjoying nature and getting the American experience is much more fun with a friendly group.

What is the American dream and how to live it?

"If you want to know what the American dream is, you have to work as many jobs as possible until you die!" - that's what we heard from a Bulgarian colleague who, apparently, plans to spend his life exactly like that. Americans have different views on this: some really only work and never leave their city, while others fill their free time with the best moments. But our goals differed greatly from those the Bulgarian spoke about, and we really didn't want to die wiping tables, but seeing life from different sides – absolutely. Every weekend some events were planned, if rain didn't interfere with our ideal scenario (and that happened quite often). On Independence Day, July 4th, apparently, a rabbit's foot ended up in one of our pockets, and we saw a coveted day off in our schedule. To see a real American holiday fireworks display, we decided to go to the nearest "lively" city, Provincetown. This sunny summer day differed from the others in that the city streets were filled with people in bright costumes in the colors of the national flag, and there were songs and dances everywhere. Waiting for the fireworks, people sat in groups on the embankment and shared joy with those around them, thereby creating a warm atmosphere of a real holiday.

Provincetown is the most dynamic and unusual city on Cape Cod.