I'll start by saying that I signed up for the program in 2020, but was only able to fly out two years later. Only my closest family, my mom and brother, knew about my trip. So, two years of my life were shrouded in secrecy. The closer the trip got, the more questions arose. Why fly to Cyprus in the winter, of all times? Even more confusing, why go to the same small town in Belarus twice? It’s not like I was going for sausage and cheese... (Though they turned out to be very delicious).

Over those two years, I went through all the stages of acceptance: from denial: "The embassy in Russia is closing?! A pandemic?! It can't be!" to depression: "It means I'm not destined to fly to America." In the end, I was ready for any outcome. But I kept believing and did everything possible to make my dream come true.

Here I am, sitting on a plane from Moscow to Tashkent to New York. My head is in a fog. I’ve waited for this for so long that I can't believe it's happening. In the last few weeks, I was afraid to even think about it. After problems with getting a visa, vaccinations, and the start of the war, it seemed to me that a meteorite would hit or aliens would arrive and enslave humanity before I ever flew to America. That’s how my journey began, which would open up a new world for me and bring me wonderful new friends. We joked among ourselves that what happens in America, stays in America! But I will share what happened! I don't really have the desire to write dry facts or observations about America; I just want to express my feelings and emotions in a stream of chaotic thoughts.

While in Russia, I never once thought about my national identity. However, in America, the question came to a head. Answering the question "Where are you from?" for the fifteenth time, I suddenly wondered, "Where am I really from?" How do people see me, and what does that mean for me? Usually, the first thing people offer are stereotypes. Bad or good, they can be quite funny. By the end of my work, my colleagues were boldly joking with me that in Russia, bread is given out for free and that, in general, we have nothing else besides bread and potatoes. Honestly, I laughed from the heart.

Meanwhile, the idea that "all Russians are serious" – for me personally, this stereotype was quite unexpected. Most likely, I couldn't refute it, as I often walk around with a gloomy face myself. I admit, at first, it bothered me that people around me were smiling and asking how I was doing. Everything in me resisted answering and asking back. But as with anything, the main thing is to start. Just as Columbus once discovered America, America discovered people for me and taught me to be friendlier.

What surprised me was the large number of different nationalities. My roommates were from Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. I liked watching what they ate and how they behaved. For me, it became a kind of hobby to learn something new. I am grateful to my roommates for teaching me to love my body and not be shy. All you need for that is a couple of parties with Latin music and dancing. And consider your self-confidence in the bag!

Taste habits are also an interesting topic. I watched how some could eat rice every day, others noodles. I, on the other hand, can eat buckwheat every day. Sometimes I caught strange looks when I tried to explain what buckwheat is and how to eat it, so to speak. In America, it is practically not sold, and most Americans haven't even heard of such a grain. In the end, after two months, I started looking for it in all the stores and all over the internet. That’s what taste habits mean!

Since I had to forget about buckwheat, it was time to test my stomach's durability. Mexican, Italian, and Asian cuisines came into play. In the morning, there were powerful smoothies with acai berry and spirulina powders, wheatgrass juice, and turmeric shots with pepper, all because I worked in a vegan smoothie cafe. Frankly speaking, at first, I was skeptical about American products and cuisine, but in the end, I became a champion at eating Cini Minis dry. So, can we say that the way to a tourist's heart is through their stomach on a gastronomic tour? More yes than no. I cook some things at home with pleasure now, of course, not forgetting about buckwheat. By the way, a little more about food. I am a huge fan of watermelons, so it was a miracle for me to see them in the store in June. As we all know, the watermelon season in Russia is so short that there is a chance you might miss it entirely. So every weekend, I bought a watermelon and carried it in my backpack on my bike! After the first time, I already knew that if I wanted something, nothing would stop me. Half an hour later, I was already eating it on the beach.

Special attention should be paid to the ocean. Imperceptibly, it became a huge source of strength and energy for me. It was calming, even when it was raging. We watched the sunrise and sunset, sitting on huge lifeguard chairs. We looked at the horizon and discussed how far we had come. Words cannot describe what this trip means to me now. It turned my consciousness 180 degrees. It didn't just pull me out of my comfort zone; it threw me out! The most important thing I realized for myself: nothing is impossible! Don't be afraid to dream, take risks, and stay open to the new!

I couldn't activate my profile here. My email is angelina_vr2000@mail.ru