Somewhere out there, far, far away in the vast expanses of the Universe, there is a special place where dreams are born. Once ignited, they shine like stars, illuminating our life paths, and sometimes, even in the most difficult moments, they sustain us – and sooner or later, they come true. And when your dream comes true, it is comparable to the coolness of rain in the middle of an endless, exhausting desert. Let me tell you about my dreams now, my dear friend :)
There were only a few hours left until Christmas. As a little five-year-old boy, wrapped in huge, yet very spacious and soft pajamas that served as protection from the insidious cold, I sat near a sparkling Christmas tree on a fluffy rug littered with soft toys. The light from the fireplace slowly spread across the walls, leaving a mysterious trail; the air was filled with the scent of a fresh Christmas tree mixed with tangerines and candies, a blizzard whistled merrily outside the window, and the aroma of my mom's freshly baked oatmeal cookies and hot cocoa with milk wafted from the kitchen – all this created an atmosphere of true magic, the kind of holiday that, like the chiming of the clock, made my little heart beat faster and faster with extraordinary joy.
That evening, after watching "Home Alone 2: Lost in New York," a huge dream ignited in my little heart to visit the place where people live in countless skyscrapers above the clouds, where streets full of cozy shop windows with souvenirs and toys sparkle with millions of lights, where you can hear all the languages of the world and feel goosebumps on your skin while standing at the top of the Empire State Building in the very heart of the Big Apple – the majestic and so alluring New York!
Sometimes something distant and unknown seems unattainable to us, and yet the Universe is arranged in such a way that every sincere desire will eventually find its ship in the Bay of Dreams and find its way to you along the Star River.
Now it is hard for me to believe that two years ago I first learned about the program from my friend and decided, casting aside all fear and doubt, to trust my heart and cross the ocean to fulfill that very bright dream that had been burning in the heart of a five-year-old child for almost fourteen years! And, you know, the realization that so many years of waiting and constant wishing are about to come true makes your heart beat faster, and goosebumps keep running down your skin in anticipation of what lies ahead – there are not enough words in the whole world to describe the feelings I experienced at that moment.
And now, for the second time, fate has decreed that I am flying again on steel wings across the entire Atlantic Ocean to meet the city that forever left its fiery mark on my soul, which will warm me even in the coldest winter and wild frost, which will remind me only that every desire will sooner or later come true, because that is how it should be. And your dream, my dear friend reading this story, is about to come to life!
Flying over the expanses of snowy Norway
10 hours later, the plane captain announces readiness for descent in 15 minutes, and immediately the heart begins to beat faster, because it knows that in a few moments I will see those places again that have already managed to become home. We are descending. Sunbeams pierce the clouds like arrows, below us is the endless blue ocean where yachts with captains are sailing, and in the distance, it appeared: majestic New York with its endless skyscrapers that seem to reach for the sun, striving to fly to the stars.
Hello, lovely New York, I’ve missed you so much! :)
This time, the language barrier was much easier: the practice from the previous year was just crazy, so now I started conversations with strangers without difficulty if I needed help.
And now I am rushing on the express to Manhattan through the endless subway tunnels, to 44 East, not far from Times Square, where a bus is supposed to pick me up to the final destination: my beloved Greenport, located in New York State, where I worked last summer. After grabbing my favorite cheese pizza, which, by the way, is just unreal in taste, and also very cheap, only 99 cents, which automatically puts it on the Must Try List! After a hearty snack, I jump on the bus and rush towards my dreams. Such a short meeting, New York, but we will see each other soon!
And hello again, Greenport!
Upon arrival, I was very warmly greeted by my dear friends. How I missed you all! It is hard to put into words the joy I felt at that moment. After seeing everyone and having a veeeery hearty dinner, I headed towards my house, and upon arriving there, the guys decided to throw a party in honor of my arrival! I met new people who are truly incredible! Radvile, if you are reading this, know that you are one of the coolest girls I have ever had the chance to meet! :) It was a very warm and at the same time crazy evening, full of adventures. It was time to go to sleep, and believe it or not, but as I was falling asleep, I felt the warmth of home comfort, so native and close, that it seemed as if I had never left. It was hard to believe that a whole year had passed. And here I am again.
This is the kind of warm sunset that greets me in Greenport :)
Walking through the nooks and crannies
And time keeps flying like a rocket :) Day after day, the guys and I spent time together, becoming closer and closer to each other, like a family, a single whole. Endless barbecues on the beach by the ocean under the starry sky, music, karaoke nights, joint trips, ups and downs – we were always together, and even now, being far from each other, we are all connected to the end of our days by an invisible thread that cannot be broken. Almost all of us were from different countries, spoke different languages, and yet we were united by that inner fire that once ignited a dream in us and gave us the courage to follow it.
With my American family
Watching the sunset on the shore of Rocky Point beach
After a busy workday, we share our dreams late at night
This summer was extraordinary! I felt what it means to be a yacht captain, thanks to my friend Robin for that! We saw endless ocean waters on which a pink sunset shimmered smoothly, we were blown by a warm salty sea breeze, and high in the heavens, the stars were our guides. My friends and I crossed an entire state by ferry to get to Boston, which simply conquered our hearts. My childhood dream of visiting Harvard finally came true. Boston, you are just unreal, thank you! I visited New York repeatedly, as I promised. This time there was no place left that I hadn't visited :)
The majesty of Boston's skyscrapers is impressive
Somewhere on the streets of Boston
A walk in the courtyard of the legendary Harvard! So happy that I finally saw it in person!
The famous city library in Boston looks more like Hogwarts
We were standing at cloud level
For the first time in my life, I visited a Mets baseball game. Adrenaline, drive, and sincere emotions. Simply indescribable sensations!
Exploring the expanses of New York
I always crave adventure. And this year I decided to fulfill my long-standing dream: to see the Grand Canyon. Gathering my courage and preparing myself mentally for the trials that awaited me on the way to this Wonder of the World, I found a group of fellow adventurers like me, and together, having bought plane tickets, we agreed to meet at our starting point – in Las Vegas.
Early in the morning at the end of August, I am already on the bus to New York. After grabbing a bite at Starbucks in Times Square, I set off with Jay Z feat Alicia Keys – New York in my headphones to the bus that will take me to Queens – one of the main districts of the city, where the La Guardia airport I needed was located. The road was not easy, and after 4 hours of travel (New York is just huge!) I was already sitting at the airport, waiting for boarding for my flight. They announce boarding for my flight New York – Detroit – Las Vegas!
3-2-1. We are taking off! Five and a half hours of waiting and conversations with my new friend from Turkey named Sal, who lives in New York and works there as a firefighter, having saved the lives of a mother and child while on duty. One always wants to say thank you to such people just for existing and for what they do for us. Time flies unnoticed during conversations, and now our plane is approaching its destination. The endless green plains, cliffs, lakes, and rivers that we saw in New York and other states are no longer visible. All this is replaced by the endless sands of a majestic and wise desert, which has adorned itself with cliffs, hills, and mountains rising like guardians of peace amidst all this imperturbability and order.
Hello, crazy Las Vegas!
If I were asked to name the craziest and at the same time most unreal city, my choice would definitely fall on Las Vegas! Already at the airport, we encounter what this Sin City is famous for: casinos. They are everywhere, absolutely everywhere. Casinos are the first thing in Las Vegas that you will see while still at the airport. The energy of the city is just cosmic! I don't know what it's connected with: whether it's the heat of +35 degrees Celsius, or if this place is truly charged with human emotions, endless drive, and the desire to live this life :) At the airport, I met the guys with whom I was to spend the next week on a trip through the dear West.
Having reached our hotel, the first thing we did was rush to walk, despite the wild fatigue after the flight. When you see all these places that you previously only saw in movies, your eyes light up with fire and run in different directions! Everything is shining everywhere, on the streets musical groups are performing the AC/DC song "Shook me all night long," people are flying right above us on rides, someone is relaxing after a hard day's work with a strong drink at the bar counter in the company of attractive girls, and someone is putting on their own shows for the insatiable public. A crazy city and incredible at the same time.
Fremont Street in all its glory
The Strip deserves special attention. Getting to the Strip is like plunging into France, Italy, Egypt, old-school New York, and many other places on our planet at the same time! Traveling here, be sure to visit the Bellagio fountains. When I first saw and heard them, I felt that very pleasant shiver on my body. Another dream from my Diary of Desires came true.
"Pink Flamingo" Hotel
A piece of France in the middle of the desert
A mixture of beauty and madness, unreal heat during the day and pleasant coolness at night, endless parties until the morning, hundreds of thousands of people, casinos, slot machines, expensive cars, indescribable architecture of hotels on the Strip, the beauty of the Bellagio fountains, the abnormality of Fremont Street with its incendiary concerts and shows, magicians and artists, as well as night fire shows – this is what Las Vegas is, the real one, as we see it in movies! Definitely must see!
Me and my dear friends :) I miss you!
Managed to be a model for a shoot in Las Vegas
Behind me is the Bellagio hotel with its world-famous fountains
Our team of travelers is moving on. It's time to see your true majesty, Mr. Grand Canyon!
We were rushing in two cars through wild deserts, the sun was blazing outside the window, hot wind was flying, as if competing with us in speed. Oh, dear West Wind! You have always been a tailwind for us during this incredible journey! Thank you for that.
On the way, we stopped at 2 truly cool places – Zion National Park and the Valley of Fire! We didn't stay there long: it's very hot, so after taking more than a hundred photos, we moved on to our main point for today :)
After 5 hours, the endless deserts were replaced by rocky terrain covered with trees. The heat receded, and was replaced by a slight coolness. We were approaching it, the majestic Grand Canyon! Damn it, how beautiful you are! When you see it in person, it's hard to believe that such a thing is even possible: endless expanse, eagles soaring above it in search of prey, and the imperturbable calmness and power that this place radiates. Words here will not be able to describe even a hundredth of the beauty that the Grand Canyon represents. So just look at it and feel it.
Infinity frozen in time
Its majesty gives you goosebumps
My dear friends and simply unreal cool girls! I miss you both very much :)
Playing Superman. And what is your superpower? I know how to dream
We spent the whole day at the Canyon and, as much as we wanted to stay here for the night, we had to move on and say goodbye to our new Big Friend until next time :)
Managed to feed a squirrel at the Grand Canyon :)
So, after feeding the squirrels and loading our things into the cars, we moved on, back to Las Vegas to prepare for our departure to our next location – Los Angeles!
The road back to Las Vegas was filled with some kind of peace. At that moment, we were driving through the endless night Mojave Desert, the Zac Efron song "Rewrite the stars" was playing in the car, and outside the window, I simultaneously saw what I still see in my dreams: the night sky, dotted with hundreds of thousands of bright stars, hundreds of which fall every second, giving everyone who sees them the opportunity to make as many wishes as they want. Stars. There is always something especially attractive in them, a certain magic that envelops your mind with its eternal radiance. That night was one of the most beautiful I have ever seen in my life. It is for such moments, which simply take your breath away, that you want to live, and dream, and take risks, and try, attempt, fall, and try again, despite all the obstacles and difficulties that arise on the way, so, my dear friend, when you too are driving under this magical sky, remember my words and just smile. Let this moment be special for each of us.
Insanely beautiful Nevada deserts
And we are on the road again! The endless road is the lot of any traveler, and yet it carries something extraordinary, gives you a taste for life, making it richer and richer each time. The road was fun. Hours of conversation, snacking, tons of jokes, cool music of all genres – all this accompanied us throughout the many hours that we drove through the winding mountains on the way to the City of Angels. And finally, the languor of anticipation is replaced by delight at the sight of it: the city where Hollywood, Beverly Hills, the Walk of Fame, Universal Park, Venice Beach, and much more are located!
Hello, dear Los Angeles!
Arriving where I wanted to get to for so long, the feeling of fatigue disappears as if by magic :) So the first thing we did was go not to the hotel, but to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Arriving there, the first thing you notice is not the stars, but the countless crowds of tourists. There is nothing surprising here: the place is very popular and is on the Must See list of every person who comes to Los Angeles for the first time.
Next to Muhammad Ali's star
There are a lot of stars! And yet, for me as an athlete, only one star has a special place: Muhammad Ali's star. It was an honor for me to take a picture next to it, because once Ali himself stood in the very place where I was, and touched his star! It is worth noting that this is the only star that is not located on the floor, but is installed on the wall.
Having photographed almost all the stars and looked at absolutely all the souvenir shops and a couple of clothing stores, we decided to spend the departing day in a unique place – at the Griffith Observatory. The view that opens up to night Los Angeles from there is simply indescribable: hundreds of thousands of lights, towering skyscrapers of Downtown, planes cruising in the sky, and a sky dotted with stars – all this is like a movie, but no, everything is really real. Here I am, here, and all of Los Angeles is in the palm of my hand. Dreams come true.
View of night Los Angeles from the Griffith Observatory
Moonlight
The night was going to be fun :) Despite the fact that the next morning we had to get up as early as possible because the plans included visiting Universal Park, Hollywood, and Santa Monica, we decided to meet our friends who live in Los Angeles. After resting a little in the jacuzzi at our hotel, we headed to Downtown, to our friends' apartments, while looking at the city's sights. The night was just fire! Real J-1s know how to relax really vigorously! :) Guys, thank you so much for your hospitality!
The next morning we went to Hollywood and Beverly Hills. The places don't need extra words: we have known about them since childhood :) But what happened next was simply beyond fantasy. Have you ever dreamed of visiting Hogwarts and plunging into the magical world of Harry Potter? Walking through Hogsmeade? Trying chocolate frogs? Perhaps peeking into Ollivanders wand shop? Or hearing the sound of that very express from platform "Nine and Three-Quarters"? So, we continue our story.
Universal Park is a place of epic scale not only for children but also for adults. When you get here, your soul seems to become 13 years younger, and here you are a child again, full of joy :) The park has absolutely everything, from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter to Jurassic Park. The first thing my friends and I did was head towards the village of Hogsmeade – the starting point into the world of Harry Potter.
Once in Hogsmeade, you feel as if you are in a fairy tale, you don't believe your eyes. Goosebumps run down your body when you hear the sound, and then you see the real express from platform "Nine and Three-Quarters."
Did you order the express to Hogwarts? :)
Taverns with magical food, shops with chocolate frogs and living newspapers are scattered around, "Butterbeer" is sold everywhere, children run around in Hogwarts school uniforms, waving magic wands around, making objects in certain zones move (This is provided specifically for magic wands), and there, in the distance, it appears, the giant school of witchcraft and wizardry named Hogwarts! Without thinking twice, we headed to the queue for the world-famous Harry Potter ride.
Thanks for the opportunity to visit a fairy tale, Work and Travel!
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry!
Waiting in line was worth it. Once in the castle, we left our things in the luggage storage on the first floor of the castle and went to explore its depths. Living paintings, wax candles, Albus Dumbledore's office, and Albus himself telling us about the castle – it's just fantastic! But what awaited us next is beyond all praise. It was time to ride the attraction. Upon entering the hall, you immediately pay attention to the ceiling: thousands of candles are flying there, just like in the movie :) Guys and girls dressed in school uniforms help you sit on moving seats and prepare for an unforgettable journey. Suddenly Hermione's voice is heard – and you are carried away into an incredible whirlwind of events: dragons, flying on a broomstick over Hogwarts, a game of Quidditch, an attack of dementors, the Forbidden Forest, wind, water splashes, air, huge moving trees that are about to hit you, spiders – all this is perceived as simply unreal! You want to repeat this attraction again and again! Personally, we rode five times in a row – and I still want more :)
The trip around Universal Park with the King Kong attraction and Jurassic Park occupy a separate place. You can't say much here: the special effects are just crazy! Adrenaline is pumping in the blood, especially when you see the battle of the Tyrannosaurus and King Kong in their natural sizes and feel it all on yourself!
For the whole day at Universal, we went through almost all the attractions, and yet take note of the advice: come on weekdays when the park is unloaded. Avoid trips there on weekends to avoid kilometer-long queues. It is better to overpay for a ticket and buy yourself a VIP, thereby saving time, than to stand in queues for each attraction :)
Universal gave us simply unforgettable emotions! I felt like that little boy in huge pajamas again, which I once was. I am still the same, the same dreamer with incredible plans, just a little older and some of the dreams have already come true :)
After the Park, having had a little snack, I went to Santa Monica beach. To see 2 oceans in one summer? Easy! :) What can I say, my love for beautiful sunsets only intensifies with the years. How beautiful nature is and everything that surrounds us!
My time in Los Angeles was slowly coming to an end. We said goodbye to our friends until next time, and I set off on my way. There are always surprises in travels. In my case, it consisted of the fact that my phone died, and I was left without communication absolutely. My plane was leaving at night, and it was already evening. It was no time for jokes. My friends had already left, so I was left all alone. But without such trials, a trip is not considered a real trip, so you need to show character and act!
Real adventures began. Listen to me, friend, if you ever find yourself in the same situation, here is some advice for you: don't be shy to ask people for help, especially if they are police officers, which is what I did. The officer listened to me, smiled, and kindly began to explain to me on his phone how to get to the airport. The route was just huge: 27 miles. 27 miles through an absolutely unfamiliar city. Without communication. What else is needed for complete happiness? Perhaps a non-working subway line that would take me straight to my destination. All this led to the fact that I had to catch a bus in Downtown that goes to my airport through one of the most dangerous districts of Los Angeles: Compton.
I am next to my new friend :)
While I was riding the subway, American students got to know me. We talked about Belarus and Russia, Europe. There were a lot of questions about our culture and how we live at all. The guys really want to visit our countries because they haven't seen anything else in their lives besides America. Can you imagine how lucky we are to have the opportunity to get to know another culture?
At one of the subway stations in Los Angeles
Having learned about my problem, the guys volunteered to help me, searched for optimal routes on maps, and explained how to get to the place. At my subway stop, they got off with me and led me through Downtown in the direction of the bus stop. On the way, we met a grandmother named Mary, who was also heading to the airport. It was with her that I was to spend the most exciting and at the same time dangerous 4 hours of my life. The grandmother Mary and I were riding the bus to Compton together.
Arriving in Compton, you immediately notice how much America is a country of contrasts. If everything was beautiful and clean in Downtown, then here you see a completely different America. However, this experience was and remains invaluable to me, especially the sensations after you have been there :) Most of all, the reaction of the local residents leaves a mark in memory when they see me, a guy with a babyface type face, and a grandmother with a bag, calmly walking around Compton, where even taxis don't go. For us, the evening passed absolutely calmly. The bus following to the airport arrived, and half an hour later we were already there. Having said goodbye to Super-Mary, I went to my terminal to wait for my flight to New York with a transfer in Chicago. Wild fatigue was lulling me to sleep, and at the same time, the joy from everything where I had been, who I had met, and what I had seen, gave me strength and resilience for further trials :)
Bye-bye, LA, see you again soon
A few hours of flight and I am back in my native New York. It was already late evening, and it happened that I missed my bus to Greenport. I didn't want to stay in a hotel, and the earliest train was at 6 in the morning, so I decided not to waste time and do what I simply didn't have time for last year: go up to the roof of the Empire State Building!
Words here will be superfluous. This beauty simply takes your breath away. The whole city is in the palm of your hand. A smile did not leave my face for a long time, and even now, while I am talking to you, my dear friend, I am still smiling :)
Somewhere over New York
Smile no matter what!
Seeing night New York is simply a Must See for every traveler! Don't spare a night in this beautiful city – it will give you unforgettable impressions for many years to come.
Morning has come. I am on the train home to say "bye" to my friends, pack my things, and walk through Greenport one more time, sit on the ocean shore with friends, feel the coolness of the water and stones, the majestic power of the stars, and remind myself once again that everything we wish for – it will definitely come true, because the Universe is arranged precisely to make a person happy.
America sees me off home with an incredible sunny sunset
Work and travel is truly a gift from above, a real school of life. It is a chance to see those unexplored distances that are beyond the horizon. It is a chance to learn a new culture, make countless friends, and visit places where many dream of visiting all their lives. After all, seeing thousands and even hundreds of thousands of stars in the night sky in the Mojave Desert is worth casting aside doubts and taking a risk, isn't it? So don't be afraid of the unknown. Sometimes you just need to take a risk and throw yourself into this crazy, but so exciting whirlwind of life, so that later you can smile, standing at the edge of the Grand Canyon, smile, take a breath, and mentally say: "I did it"! So isn't it time to say "Yes!" to your dreams and set off to conquer this world with us?
America, thank you for everything!
