So, my first day of work has arrived. Honestly, I was terrified... We’re so cunning when we look for a job offer, making up so many virtues in our resumes! (well, everyone does that, right..) Including tons of work experience! (yeah, yeah.. at the imaginary "Romashka" cafe in the center of Minsk=)) and who’s going to check??))) anyway, in reality, we didn't even know how to hold a tray properly! Plus, my first day fell on July 4th! (US Independence Day!)

In short, they didn't let me be a waitress... all they trusted me with as a newbie was cutting lemons (limes, to be precise - those green little lemons, they shove them everywhere! The restaurant mainly served seafood - all kinds of fish, shrimp, lobsters.. and you know, no matter how gross that fish might be, it tastes okay with lime! So they don't skimp on it - they add it everywhere!) and wrapping knives and forks in napkins! Overall, a day full of events!=))

That day, the restaurant was a total madhouse! Tons of people! All tables were occupied, new customers were crowding at the entrance - waiting for their turn... waiters were rushing around with trays carrying huge fried fish (of course, buried under a thick layer of lime=) ).. everyone was busy, everyone was bustling.. but for me, time seemed to stand still - wrapping the hundredth knife and fork in the hundredth napkin.. looking around.. it's very hot! Trying to remember the waiters' names - I feel like a character in a Brazilian soap opera))) the manager is Manuel (a nasty snake! I'll tell you why later), that guy over there is called Domingo, I think.. or.. I'll have to ask again.. okay, that's Eduardo... there's Ernesto.. Mary (that's easy!).. Yu..what? ah, Yuneisy.. where from? Jamaica, got it.. Iliana (almost like Juliana..)... Rolland, Marvin, Emilio, Pedro, Marisa, Nora, Pita... crazy.. they, in turn, are also struggling to pronounce my name.. so it's gradually simplifying to Alissia (instead of Alesya) - that's the Spanish version - or Alishia - that's the American way)) and you know what, I like it)) like Alicia Keys=)

Since I'm not much use anyway, they let us go early today, but getting home quickly doesn't work out - apparently because of the holiday, buses run rarely - we wait a whole hour for a transfer to bus B (by the way, don't be surprised, buses can have both numbers and letter names like bus "B", "C".. and there can be one name but two different routes!! you have to look at the bus direction, for example "C" - via Crandon - means the bus goes to Crandon Park, but there is also a second bus "C" that turns in a completely different direction.. so there you go.. be careful) ...so by the time our second bus arrives, it's already dark.. plus, on the bridge from downtown to Miami Beach, we get stuck in a traffic jam!.. but that gives us a chance to watch the fireworks! We didn't expect to catch them, but everything worked out so well! We arrive at the hostel only by 9 o'clock.. and off to sleep, alarm set for 5:40.