She told me about our International Exchange Center, where wonderful people work, ready to help you "100%" in any difficult situation, to clarify any confusing cases – whether it's the meticulous filling out of paperwork, purchasing plane tickets, or a trip to the consulate to obtain a visa. I am incredibly grateful to my friend who crossed my path at the right moment, and to the guys from the International Exchange Center who always tried to make things easier and provided support. The academic year seemed to fill with something special, new, and bright. After all, a summer dream of a trip to the USA was simmering inside! Oh my God, how pleasant it was to live with that feeling inside, realizing that soon you would be able to see New York, the Statue of Liberty, meet Americans, touch them, and maybe even hug them! And even taking exams went more cheerfully when I realized that this was not just another test on the path to gaining knowledge and higher education, but also a path to my big dream.
The most stressful moment, as I am sure it is for the majority of students dreaming of conquering the American continent, turned out to be the trip to Moscow, to the American embassy. It was very scary, because at stake was not just a summer trip, but your dream. All the way to the embassy, I was frantically rehearsing answers to all possible questions that might arise from the consul, memorized my rights while on US territory, and much more. But, to my surprise, everything went very smoothly and even positively. I got a young female consul who greeted me warmly, asked a couple of routine questions, and with a smile informed me that my visa was approved. It was an incredible feeling, immense joy just flooded my whole body!.. At first, there was hysterical delight, and then peace appeared, the realization came that I had finally achieved what I so fiercely desired, and now nothing could stand in my way and prevent the trip to a country about which I had too many stereotypes that I wanted to dispel with my own experience.
"Set big goals for yourself, for they are easier to hit."
Friedrich Schiller
And finally, that sweet, long-awaited moment of landing in the country of my dreams arrived. I want to say that it was such an unforgettable sensation that even now, remembering that first moment when from the airplane window I saw tiny American houses by the shores washed by the Atlantic Ocean, my heart stops and my breath catches. At first, it was even hard to grasp. For about two weeks, my friend and I walked around as if in a trance or a dream that looked very much like reality, and constantly said to each other: "We are in America!", just to finally believe it.
