The next stop was Norfolk. I was so surprised when I got off in an unfamiliar place, all by myself... it felt like I had landed on a deserted island after the noisy city. The most interesting and terrible thing for me was that I didn't see a single bus stop, even though they were marked on the Internet. I almost burst into tears. No one was there to meet me, and I had to get there on my own or follow a specific plan. According to that plan, a taxi was supposed to be waiting for me in Virginia Beach, along with another girl, Ilona, who was heading to the same place. I found out about the taxi when I was already on the bus, halfway to Norfolk; getting off wasn't an option. Finally, pulling myself together, I asked a woman at the bus station for advice, and she kindly gave me a business card with a taxi phone number. Luckily, I had some change in my pocket. I had never done anything like that before; calling from a payphone felt wild when you have a mobile, but alas, I had a Russian SIM card. Done deal, I managed it; most importantly, I had conversational English now, having learned a bit in New York. A yellow taxi came for me—great service, they even pronounced my name correctly, which is rare since Americans often struggle with Russian names. I only paid 22 dollars for the taxi.
It was very hot outside; after Russia's +15°C, it was hard to get used to +30°C in May! But that didn't scare me because I had arrived! The first person I met was the administrator at TownePlace Suites, Wyatt, a middle-aged man whom I liked immediately because of his smile. He was the only person, my American friend, who pronounced my name correctly! The man and his assistant explained that my employer wouldn't arrive until Monday, and it was Thursday when I arrived. In principle, I could start working on Friday. They showed me to my room, and I was thrilled. The room matched the pictures on the Internet perfectly, which is rare these days! Usually, websites upload only the best photos of rooms, but this was such a pleasant surprise. The room had everything, even a dishwasher. I was immensely happy since I could cook for myself.
