First, gathering documents, then talking to parents about the awareness of my decision, and finally, the interview at the embassy. To my great surprise, I was more than calm. The atmosphere was so friendly that there was no doubt everything would go smoothly. It is also pleasant that IEC.Exchange takes this point very responsibly and thoroughly, warning you not only about all the documents you should take to the embassy, but also providing detailed instructions on how to behave during the interview with the consul. Approaching the window where the consul was, I had a nice chat with her and heard the long-awaited and soul-warming word "approved". The consul was so sweet that she asked me to take photos of the most beautiful places in America with the hashtag #worktravelusa. I will never forget that feeling of warmth deep inside. The moment when my inner voice told me:
"You did it, you made it!
Roza, you must conquer America!"
At the airport check-in, there was still a certain distance between Ksyusha and me; no one showed it, but the fact that we didn't know each other was a bit unsettling. The realization that you don't know how a person will behave in a given situation. But we were both moving towards our dream: to get to America, and that brought us together. Already on the runway, we were talking about upcoming events and sharing our expectations.
We had a long journey from New York to Virginia Beach ahead of us, and it was truly wonderful. Thanks to Work and Travel USA, I became more organized and independent. Now it's not difficult for me to plan my actions and get to work.
During our entire journey (plane, bus, shuttle, taxi, and walking), we met a huge number of open and positive people! Starting from simple passersby who could unexpectedly start a conversation with you, to other students who came through the Work and Travel USA program. And even now, after the program ended, many of them invite us to visit their countries. In these very moments, you begin to realize how small this world is and what a huge spectrum of opportunities it provides you.
We decided to find housing ourselves, but unfortunately, we did it at the very last moment, so I would like to give a warning to try to complete all your tasks in advance. The VKontakte website helped with this. We were lucky, and we were met right at the stop where the shuttle arrived and taken directly to our workplace so that we could roughly imagine where it was located. Everyone around was extremely friendly, which could not help but be welcoming.
When we entered Subway, which is where our JobOffer was, we were met by the owner himself, and after a couple of phrases, he asked if we had a Social Security Number (SSN). I didn't have one, and as soon as he found out, he kindly offered to go and submit the documents. The boss waited for me while I submitted the documents, and then drove me straight to the house where Ksyusha was already waiting for me.
She was already starting to settle into our, now, home. Quite spacious rooms (especially those who live in apartments will understand me): our own balcony, bathroom, washing machine and dryer, and all this 10 minutes from the ocean, and there was nothing more to dream of.
We ended up in a fairy tale!
What's strangest is that Ksyusha and I didn't even have to find a common language. The distance disappeared immediately, and we easily laughed and talked as if we had known each other for 100 years. This is for those who are afraid to travel with companions, because any person who has managed to break out of their shell, or as it is now customary to say, left their comfort zone, already expresses by their desire and actions that they are ready for adventures and are not afraid of dangers.
Ksyusha and I were ready for everything and proved it!
In our apartment, although I want to call it a suite, we lived at first with three people, with another girl, then she was replaced by a very nice couple from Siberia.
Before this program, I could not have imagined that in 3 months you could become best friends with people you have known for such a short time. The realization that you are, so to speak, alone in America gives an incredible feeling of unity with everyone around you, and this gives an incredible charge of energy and a desire to act without stopping at any difficulties.
On my YouTube channel, you can watch the most detailed and incredibly exciting adventures of two students from Russia in America, me and Ksyusha! Enjoy watching :)
