Remember how it all started...(c)

Honestly, I don't remember how I found out that starting in 2008, evening students were allowed to participate in the Work and Travel program. I had always wanted to go to the USA because, over the years of my studies, I watched happy full-time students returning from America with a huge amount of positive emotions; their enthusiasm was overflowing. And then it happened! Yes! The American government finally condescended to us poor part-time students)))))

I chose CMO. Why? Because almost all my acquaintances went through this agency and were satisfied. I decided not to take any risks, and besides, there isn't much choice in our city; it's not the capital where agencies are a dime a dozen.

By the way, the idea of a "summer in the USA" hit me in early January. Friends tried to convince me that we were a bit late and so on and so forth. I spent the whole Sunday agonizing over the uncertainty since the Center was closed. I am an emotional person who gets infected by ideas instantly and irrevocably, so I barely survived that day off)))))

But!!! Yes, we made it. Yes, I didn't care that my passport was expiring on 09.12.2009, I didn't care about the evening department or anything at all. "You qualify for the program"!!!! Those cherished words.

The interview at the Center was simple and informal. Lena, thank you so much))))

Honestly, at that moment in January, I was sure they wouldn't give us a visa. I had heard all sorts of stories about scary consuls at the Embassy. And here I was, with one mistake after another. I changed my last name, changed my patronymic, I don't know where my biological father lives, and I have VERY, well, VERY few hours at my studies (nowhere near 20). And on top of everything, we are married and going together. But we thought, if it's meant to be, we'll get lucky! We decided to sign up.

In these difficult crisis times, we chose the "Full service" option. Years of wandering the country with a backpack on my back taught me that a miser pays twice, or sometimes even four times. So, it was decided to entrust the job search to CMO, and they even had a hostel for 2 days in NY paid for, and they promised to meet us at the airport (actually, my optimism doesn't stretch THAT far, but who knows). In principle, everything is described beautifully and neatly. Let's take a risk))))

We collected the documents in record time. Although I struggled with the certificate regarding the number of hours. I found out that I didn't have the required 20 hours only after I had paid the first installment. But! (Talk about luck) the center said that I could continue to participate in the program, it's just that the consul might have more questions for me. I had a thought, conveniently planted by third parties, to forge the certificate for the required 20 hours. But I don't like to lie or break the law, so I decided to rely on chance.

The Embassy was waiting for us on 24.03. Hello, Capital!!!!!!