At 5:30, a siren woke me up. Honestly, I didn't want to open my eyes. I didn't want to look at everything around me and the people nearby. I was sleeping on the top bunk, so no one paid much attention to me, but I could see what was happening below. It was a shock. Women were getting out of bed in hair curlers. Some were wearing sleep masks. Some were checking their email on their laptops. My neighbor from the bottom bunk wished me a good morning. I got up, and our "nanny" immediately approached me with a disposable toiletry kit. It included shower gel, shampoo, hair conditioner, a toothbrush, toothpaste, mouthwash, a razor, and soap. She also wished me a good morning and asked how my night went, if I needed a different pillow, and if I was comfortable sleeping on the top bunk. While I was heading to the shower, I heard another "guest" of the shelter complaining that the neighboring bed was squeaking. When I came back, a staff member was already greasing it. At exactly 6:30, everyone had to leave the building, and at 7, we were invited to breakfast.

Honestly, I expected vegetable stew with pig brains served in aluminum bowls and had prepared for the worst. For breakfast, there were pancakes, hot waffles, croissants (to choose from), 2 eggs each, coffee with cream, and mango. To say I was shocked is an understatement.

Seeing how lightly I was dressed, a staff member offered me new clothes, and I was also offered a bicycle so I wouldn't have to spend money on the bus. After breakfast, I went to talk to the lawyer for the shelter "guests," as they call him. I retold the whole story, and negotiations with the hotel started again. I was told that the door MIGHT be opened on Monday. I had to hold on for 2 more days. I went outside and saw moms walking with their children, people rushing to work... everything was just like normal people.

Henry was already waiting for me outside, still seriously suggesting we go to church. I agreed, since there was nothing else to do anyway... if it were a simple church, this story probably wouldn't have made it into this narrative =)... it turned out to be a Korean Orthodox church. The mass was something else...

First, they had all the new adepts (including me) stand up. They put wreaths on us, and a line formed for hugging. After about 50 people hugged me, we sat down to listen to the mass. It was dedicated to the idea that people are created to love, and God, when creating us, didn't create us as toads because He also loved. The pastor was something else - a mix of Andrey Malakhov and Yakubovich. Sometimes he would shout loudly and jump in place, constantly appealing to the audience. Before the mass started, they showed us public service announcements and YouTube videos. Then a lottery began. Each of us had a number sticker attached before the mass, and then they announced the winning number. IT WAS MINE!!!! There were 6 other people like me (number 19), and each of us was given a $25 card for free food =)

Unfortunately, food wasn't allowed in the shelter, so Henry and I bought a huge pack of M&Ms and a giant bun with jam in the middle... That's how I spent my first money in America....

Lights out at the shelter is early - after 10 PM, they don't let anyone in. So around 8, I returned and wrote all this down on a piece of paper I begged from the nanny. In the evening, they showed Star Wars, and those who wanted to could use the internet...

Back home, none of my friends were surprised... Mom thinks everything is okay... I guess that's how it is =)