From that day on, my pursuit of a dream began. The paperwork for the full-service program—there was so much of it. Well, what could I do? If it had to be done, it had to be done! At that moment, I remained completely calm, unlike in 2013. To be honest, I didn't care whether I would get to America or not; I was that indifferent to everything happening around me. I wasn't even scared of the upcoming year, with the interview at the US Embassy in Moscow, the potential flight to the land of dreams, the language barrier, and other issues. I didn't think about it; I just went with the flow, doing what was required of me. Day after day, and soon 2014 arrived. And that's when I started to worry. At first, because there was no news about a job placement, not even basic options, nothing! Panic set in, while many other guys started passing their interviews in Moscow and became the first to get their US visas. I found all of this on VKontakte, in a special thread created for people like me! My loved ones urged me not to go there and read it, but I couldn't help myself. The news was good, if you can call it that. Many participants were passing their interviews, sharing tips, and encouraging others—thanks to them for that!

One fine morning, at the end of April, I received the long-awaited email. And imagine my surprise when I read about the city of my stay in America. I never dreamed of ending up in the sunny resort town of Virginia Beach (working at a hotel). I had heard about the longest public beaches and the ocean, but... seeing it all with my own eyes was something unreal. A simple job offer became for me... another step toward my main goal. The hardest part was ahead: to sort out the documents as quickly as possible and get to the interview. The expected departure date was initially May 19th. Of course, I missed that date, as the interview was scheduled for May 16th.

I will never forget Day X. The funniest thing was that, for some unknown reason, I ended up being the very first in line, even though it wasn't morning. For me, it was a nightmare; I turned pale, I couldn't hear anyone, absolutely...

And then... a kind-hearted man on the other side of the window, and only when he smiled back at me did I realize that this was it. I cast aside my fear, smiled ear to ear, and didn't pay attention to English grammar because I didn't care if I got the visa or not; the main thing was that I would enjoy the conversation with a native speaker.

The words every participant dreams of hearing: "Your visa is approved," were spoken.

On the way out, I covered my face with my documents because I was ready to scream and cry at the same time. I ran to my loved ones who were waiting for me by the Embassy. I was so overwhelmed with emotions that one of my ballet flats accidentally flew off my foot. It was terrible and funny! I was jumping for joy, making the women sitting nearby smile. The most wonderful day of my life!

I had only a week to pack. (By the way, girls, my advice to you: don't take anything extra, especially when it comes to shoes and dresses). All my clothes fit into a backpack, and I took a travel bag just in case I bought things and souvenirs.