I'm just going to copy the letter I sent to my friends back home here, so you can fully feel my emotions =)

Remember, two weeks ago I told you I went for an interview at a Mexican restaurant, the wildest one in town - Señor Frog's???

When I had already had a beer before the interview???? Anyway... yesterday I was in a really bad mood because the side job I was counting on turned out to be a scam. Irochka, Ulyana's friend, sent me her gig - she was offered to hand out flyers for 4 hours for 40 bucks at a party... That's considered really good... but she couldn't do it because she's working at that time... and she gave me the number, told me to meet this woman... the woman turned out to be Russian, she has her own beauty salon.

I drove God knows where to see her (far from the center where I live in downtown (that's the business district). She was explaining everything about the products, what I should say, showing me the price list... and then she shows me the place where the party will be... It turned out to be just a street that will be blocked off and there will be a lot of people pushing around... nothing special.... when I asked how she would pay, she said from sales... and that means she won't pay anything... and when I asked how long to work, she replied ONE HOUR. So, I have to travel 1 hour there, work there 1 hour for free, and then an hour back... but I agreed, because in the long run, maybe she would help me with something, she said she has a lot of contacts and she would help me find something related to babysitting or cleaning... in short, I was stupid. I returned home very upset.

And then I remembered something. Two days ago, when I was handing out flyers, a woman came up to me on the street and started asking how I work, how many hours a day, how much I get... actually, I chat with everyone on the street, otherwise it's very boring to stand... I've already been offered American citizenship twice and about 700 times to go to the beach (at night))))))). In short, when she started asking me all these questions, I wasn't surprised and answered honestly... and then she gives me a piece of paper with the restaurant's address and a recommendation from her. She says, like, if you need a normal job, go there, they need a hostess right now. A hostess seats people, gives them menus. Worse than a waiter, salary is higher, but no tips. I went to that restaurant that same evening, they told me they were busy (meaning, a lot of clients, everyone is occupied), to come during the day. I came during the day, they told me the managers were in a meeting, to come the next day.... and in short, yesterday I already had everything ruined with that side job, I decided to add to it and stop by this restaurant to ask about work. I came, talked to the manager, smiled, he gave me an application list, I wrote everything about my work experience (fictional), wrote people in the recommendations (we always write each other). He read all this and said to come tomorrow at 2 for an interview (that is, today already). Well, that was a RESULT, because usually they say, we'll call you back. I left a little happier than I was... I got home and then I remember that I still have Señor Frog's (where I came half-drunk for an interview, I reminded you at the beginning of the letter). Usually, if they can't or don't want to hire you, they say, we'll call you back within two weeks. And, of course, they don't call back. Well, I didn't care about that, dressed decently and went there... I arrive, I say, Carlitos, like this and that... you promised to hire me, I need a job... I came to work, exactly two weeks have passed. Let's do it already. He says, how long are you here for. I say, the visa expires at the end of September, he's like, what, only for a month???? (you can never say that it's for a month, they won't hire you otherwise). I say, well, actually I'm leaving earlier than in a month... and I continue. I am Russian, it's hard for me to find a job in America, to compete with real Americans... You understand me, you're from Mexico (hahaha, you should have seen his face). I say, I'm 19 years old, I have nothing to pay for the apartment, I have nowhere to go and I WANT to work here, you promised. If not as a hostess, I'm ready to help the cook, I cook Mexican cuisine well... his eyes popped out of his head from my monologue. He says, ok, come at 6 o'clock. To which I reply, I'm handing out flyers from 3 to 6, so I'll only come at 6:30. He looks at me like a lemur... You're handing out flyers???? I tell him, well yes, it's a fucking job... but I need, I say, money. And I'm holding onto it. I hate it, but I'm responsible, so I'll finish until 6, and then I'll come here. He laughed, says, come.

I arrived at 6:30, everyone tells me, Carlitos will be here after 7... well I think, everything is bad, I'm sitting at the bar, waiting. I'm getting to know everyone. I say that I will be working there... Carlitos approaches us, and I'm sitting at the bar, they already poured me a free Coke, 2 waiters and a bartender are standing there chatting with me... and they tell him... great, this girl is working with us now.... he's like, OO, really... and turns to me, Then I don't understand why you're not at your workstation??? go quickly.... THAT'S HOW I GOT A JOB AT A COOL RESTAURANT)))))))))))

I have 28 hours a week from 6 to 10, I will get 10 bucks. At the restaurant, I'm still in training for 3 days and they are not paid, from this Sunday they will officially put me on the schedule and start measuring working hours...

Yesterday while I was standing at my station, a man comes up to me, asks what's what, why I'm still without a uniform, where I'm from...))) and then says, ok, Welcome aboard... Carlitos (the same manager) runs up to me, says, HOW ARE YOU???? I say, ok, but what's up??? He says, you were just talking to the director of the entire restaurant chain... and he is actually VERY famous, there are about 5 of them in different countries... even in Australia. He says, what did the boss tell you... and I so modestly, well he told me that I'm on board.... Carlitos smiled, says, well done, that means everything is going well)))))

In short, those are my news. Very good. I'm waiting for next week to make sure that everything will really be stable and good, if everything really is like that, then I will change my tickets from Honolulu to a later date. I'm leaving New York on September 15, naturally, I will leave at that time. BUT I planned to spend from August 27 to Sept 15 on the mainland. Live there with Russians in New York and if it works out, go somewhere. I already have friends here, a boyfriend, by the way )))), .. Like, in these almost 3 weeks I will manage to earn a lot of money and spend time with the guys I already know really well, with whom we come up with something cool every day, go somewhere... and I will always have time to travel. In this case, I think it's reasonable to change the tickets.