Off-duty time

Every day I spent in America was packed with more events than I ever experienced in a whole week back home in Saint Petersburg. I barely had enough time to post a couple of photos on Instagram with joyful captions to reassure my parents and relatives, who were worried and eagerly waiting for news.

I am happy that I ended up in the right place at the right time. I lived with great people in a large apartment. Some of our paths diverged, while others became friends. We never sat still; fun and interesting people were everywhere. Also, for the first time in my life, I truly realized that the theory of six degrees of separation works. After just a month, it felt like you knew everyone in Virginia Beach. One person knows the second, the second knows the third, and the third is your neighbor who is throwing another party that you absolutely have to get ready for!

Below, I will give just a small example of what I did in America during my off-duty time. Future J-1 Visa students, get ready!

Night walks to the ocean, cycling along the coast, sleepovers on the beach;

Adventures with a sofa (the story of how we furnished our home and hauled a GOOD sofa that an American family didn't need on our bikes);

Birthday celebrations;

Joint trips to the laundromat;

Turkish party with work colleagues and their friends;

Watching our favorite movies together;

A trip in two rental cars to Washington D.C. with an 8-hour walk through the most interesting museums and the capital's main attractions;

American-style gatherings by the "campfire";

Street performances;

Meetings in any weather, day or night;

Unforgettable days off, when anyone could drop by for a visit.

And also quiet home gatherings with various games, trips to restaurants, entertainment centers, cafes, and heart-to-heart talks; trips to the store in the middle of the night; family dinners with new friends; sitting in the gazebo and having barbecues; shopping; numerous apartment parties with different groups; constant new acquaintances, new thoughts... and much, much more!