A great Russian guy named Seryozha gave me a free ride to Myrtle. We met on the street in Folly Beach and hung out with our Russian crew—Tanya, Alina, Katya, and Seryozha—all week long!

In Myrtle Beach, another Seryozha was waiting for me! After seeing my post in the 'Myrtle Beach' VK group asking about housing and work, he wrote that if I ever needed a place to crash for a couple of days, he and his friend Kolya would take me in, no problem! They have been living in America for 5 years, legally, and came to Myrtle for a vacation.

We hit it off with the guys immediately, picked up two of their student friends, and went to a club, partying all night! The next day, Sergey left, but Kolya stayed for two weeks! From the very first evening we met, it was like a spark hit us—I won't go into details, but from that very day I arrived in Myrtle Beach, we have been a couple))

So I lived with him in the hotel for two weeks until he left too! On the first day we met, Kolya promised me he would change my perception of America when I told him I wasn't thrilled with the States at all! He took me to clubs, restaurants, and cafes, and entertained me as much as he could) He rented a moped, and we rode day and night all over Myrtle, happy and in love)

On the fourth day, I finally snapped out of my carefree life a little and went to look for a job! I just walked along Ocean Boulevard, went into every cafe, and asked if they needed workers! I walked into an ice cream kiosk, and the owner asked, 'Where are you from? Penza?'

Was I standing in front of a psychic? I really am from Penza! How could he have known?!

It turns out a girl from Penza once worked for him, and she looked just like me! We had a nice chat, and he hired me on the spot!

That was my dream job: standing at the register, taking orders, scooping ice cream, putting it into waffle cones, making milkshakes and beautiful desserts with whipped cream! The best part was that employees weren't forbidden from eating the ice cream! I ate it constantly and tried all 20+ flavors; it's delicious! No managers were breathing down my neck, and the tips for the week were enough to pay for housing! My boss, Henry, a Lebanese man, was always joking around, chatting with me, asking if I was tired, and pouring me coffee) There couldn't be a better employer!!!

My coworkers were two girls from Ireland, a chocolate-skinned woman from Jamaica with the gorgeous name Nicole, and a 15-year-old American girl named Tori!

Since moving to Myrtle, I fell in love, became an absolutely happy person, absorbed the American positivity and the habit of smiling at everyone, and the job felt like some kind of angelic mission, as if selling ice cream on a hot day was the same as gifting happiness to people)