At the end of the journey - the unique New York City

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program.20 y.o. girl.Great experience.(The beginning)

My USA experience started from New York and happily, it was going to end again there. When arriving for the first time in the city unfortunatelly I didn't have the opportunity to explore it, I could only spend some time in Columbia University and at the bus station. Now, on our way back, we were about to see more, at least we had a plan.

New York  Stock Exchange

In front of the hostel 

It was not difficult to find our hostel in the center of Manhattan. It was in an old 3-4 floor building with a little yard behind it. Vessy and I checked in and soon we went out in the big city. We were walking down the wide avenues, watching people going around us. There were so many different people- men and women, dressed elegant and sporty, hurrying up and walking slowly, local and foreigners. I was grabbing all this situation as I knew it could be my last time seeing it.

Empire State Building was the first landmark we visited. We had to wait for half an hour to enter the elevator and reach the top. The elevator was so fast that only for few minutes we got to the Observatory on the 86-th floor and then we switched to another elevator and we went to the 102-d floor. It was an unforgettable experience from the highest point in NYC- the whole city was in front of me, well... under me! After that memorable moments we got down on the street again and continued to Rockefeller center. It is definitely a place where you can spend whole day. We didn't have that time but we visited the Channal Garden and The Ice Rink. The Channal garden is a square with lovely plantings and beautiful greenery. People say that it's the same every season of the year. The garden is called like this because it is situated between the French Empire Building and the British Empire Building- exactly as the channel between the two countries. The Ice Rink is a huge skating rink that opens in the middle of October. I'm sure it will be amazing to be seen around Christmas when they light the Christmas tree. During the summer it is replaced by the Rink Bar. I've heard that under Rockefeller center there is an underground city with lots of stores and restaurants and pedestrian alleys that connects the buildings. But we prefered do some shopping on the ground as we wanted to be more outside and feel New York closer.

A post card from the 60 - s

Times Square, photo by searchroulet.com

Going ahead we reached the notorious Times Square. The famous New York Times Building was standing there in front of us, all the commercial signs, known from the picture were also there, staying for years just changing their theme a little bit- Coca Cola, Budweiser, Swatch, JVC, etc. At the Crossroads of the World (as people call Times Square), you can buy thickets for the popular Broadway shows from TKTS ticket booth. There again, every 31 December the whole New York comes to the square to celebrate the New Year and I wished myself to live this moment one day.

Tired but happy we went back to the hostel to celebrate Vessy's birthday. (Yes, she had a birthday). We met few guys there and after having a drink one of the guys invited us to a party in  New York club. We accepted the idea and had an amazing night through the streets, the subway and that New York Bar. It was the most strange birthday Vessy had had up to that moment. She said: "I had an amazing time with international people - a Bulgarian, two Americans, a French girl and a Japanese guy!"

Almost at the Statue of Liberty

After the heavy night and a little hangover we woke up early and went on our discovery plan in the city. Our flight was at 7 p.m. and we had only few hours to take more and more of New York. Our first stop this day was Battary Park, where starts the cruise for The Statue of Liberty. We saw about 50-60 people waiting to buy tickets for the tour and we decided to leave it for another happy moment in New York if we had a chance. You better use the previous link and book tickets online, it will save you a lot of time! Anyway, we waved to The Statue of Liberty and went on along New York Stock Exchange and Wall Street. We also passed through the place where the Twins had been, which was fenced. Our last moments in that gorgeous city we spent in Central Park enjoying the October sun and feeling happy of where we were. At 3 pm we took the subway and soon we were at the airport.

It was time to say goodbye to New York and The USA, to our lovely summer, happy and sad moments. I made friends, I lived for the moment, I met different people and cultures. I didn't earn much money but as I love to say: "I made my best free excursion ever!"

The end

Few days in Alexandria, VA and Washington DC

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program.20 y.o. girl.Great experience.(The beginning)

Vessy and I had so many plans about our one week holiday before we go home back to Bulgaria. We thought of going to Grand Canyon and/ or Niagara Falls and travel through the states. Our plan failed because of the lack of enough money and time but luckily we still had the offer to visit our friend in Washington DC and I don't regret at all.

The Old Town of Alexandria, photo by bookinseconds.com

Our friend Annie was actually living in Alexandria, a beautiful town in Virginia, at the border with DC. We spent two days walking around its streets. The Old Town reminded me of Europe. For the first time of my stay in USA I found a place so familiar to me, the architecture of the buildings looked like ones in old European cities. King street is the main street where are located a lot of shops and restaurants. The street goes to the dock of Potomac River. There you could enjoy amazing views of the water and the coast on the other side.
You can even hire a Water Taxi or dine in a luxury ship. Alexandria is also easily connected to Washington, the yellow metro line goes straight from King Street station to the dowtown in DC and even passes through Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (the town is only 5 km far from the airport). Alexandria seems an ideal place for living in the center of the Universe and in the same time far from the craziness of the District.

The Washington Monument

The next day we went out of Alexandria to visit the emblematic Washington. The first thing that impressed me was in the metro - it was really deep down the ground. We went out at Mc Pherson Square Metro Station and soon we found ourselves in front of The White House - the building that I had seen so many times on TV and on pictures, now it was standing in front of me with all its greatness. Of course it was not accessable from too close and I could admire it from the other side of the fence. We went on walking through beautiful parks and gardens and soon we reached The World War II Memorial and Lyncoln Memorial. In The National Mall (the area all around) near the river Potomac are also located lots of monuments dedicated to the memory of presidents and soldiers, participated in different wars. It is amazing how Americans cherish their great personalities.

Then passing through The Washington Monument and all the museums around, walking down the wide green alley, we reached The Capitol. We sat there, besides the lake and took a sandwich - hey, I was having a lunch where some of the most important decisions for the USA and the World are taken! Our walk continued through the FBI building and also we stopped in front of The Old Post Office, where there is a free elevator to the top of the tower. We finished our tour in one trade center near the Archives Metro Station where we took the metro back to Alexandria. Although it was only one day so long ago I will remember it for ever.

The Whire House

The Capitol

After spending one more day in Alexandria with Annie and her roommate (by the way, he cooked the best salmon I have ever tried) we had to move on to New York City and be ready to go home. We thanked to our friendly hosts and drop on the bus at Grayhound Bus Terminal in DC and only after 4 hours we were already in NYC.


To be continued

Time to say "Goodbye"

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program.20 y.o. girl.Great experience.(The beginning)

One of the last sunrises we saw in Myrtle

The summer was going great, things were happening - good and bad. People were coming to our lives and then were going away.
September was not so busy in the restaurant, half of the waiters had already left but the rest of us didn't have too much work and we started to think of leaving too. Vessy and I booked our flights for October,12. We planned to visit a friend in Washington DC first for a week and then to spend the last 2 days before going back home, in New York.
Many of our roommates had left too and up to the end of September we were only 4-5 people in the house.

Donyo and Asya went back to Bulgaria in the middle of the month and I remember what a great goodbye party we did, this time was not at home but in a striptease club. To be honest it was the same for me - striptease or not but the guys liked it and it was fun. Chris (one of our managers in the restaurant) made the security guard let me in but of course I was not allowed to drink (it's not that I didn't ). Anyway, the night was really cool, we moved then to another bar and we came back home in the morning.
The last 2 weeks were sad. The summer was over, people were gone, even the weather was not warm and it was not good time for the beach. North Myrtle Beach was almost empty and tourists were gone too. We were spending most of our days at Ryan's house and around the pool.

Few days before we leave we contacted our landlord and made an appointment with her for our last day to come and check the house and give us part of our rental deposit. She had $ 750 and we wanted only $300 back. But she didn't show up and we couldn't find her - not at her home, not by the phone. Even her relative that was living next to our apartament said he didn't know where she was. We were kind of pisses off and I wrote her a note telling her that she had been too unkind with us and I enumerated all the defects that we left in the house. They weren't much but I tried to describe them as they were very big. I'm sure she must have been really angry especially when she had read the last sentence: "Thanks for the party house, we'll recommend it ro our friends. With love: Your Kids". She deserved that attitude for being rude to us and not showing up on our appointment.

The day came and Ryan took us to the bus station where we took a bus to Washington. It was hard to say goodbye but we  had to. I was excited about our trip, I was excited about going home and see my friends and family but I was sad for leaving that place, for leaving that summer. I knew that part of me left there.

To be continued

Meeting Ryan

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program.20 y.o. girl.Great experience.(The beginning)

It was a lovely afternoon in August and I was sitting outside at the veranda with few of my roommates. I was looking around and suddenly I noticed that in the house in front of ours there is one guy around the pool ( there was a denivelation and we perfectly could see the yard). He also noticed us and smiled. We waved in response. On the next day we saw him passing by our house and we told him to come. That was Ryan. He was our age, tall and curly hair. He told us he was taking care of his uncle's beach houses. His uncle owned 4-5 properties and if one of them was available Ryan went there, cleaned the house and the yard. He invited us to come over some day and of course we accepted the invitation.

behind the house, photo by panoramio.com

We didn't have to wait too much and on the next day some of us went to say hi. We stayed by the pool and chatted. We started to visit him frequently - the house was really big with few bedrooms, great kitchen and a pool. One day we decided to make a party there by the pool and I was in charge to cook something. One of the easiest things I knew was chicken with potatoes. But the the potatoes are cooked together with the chicken in a tray with oil, water and spices. Ryan was surprised of the way I made it but later he even asked for more. With that party we started the new party wave.

In the jacuzzi, photo by: goin2travel.com

Two weeks later Ryan moved to another house that was a little bit further than ours but still on walking distance. There we enjoyed a jacuzzi. It was closer to the beach and we often moved from the house to the beach. We were swimming, laughing, playing games and Ryan often prepared us margaritas in the jacuzzi. It was like a dream for me. That was when I heard about the beer pong game. And as I love beer it soon became one of my favorite summer games. I remember once Ryan even took us to his family house. He had little sisters and brothers, so cute and funny guys.
The next week he moved again to the house behind us. Ryan was so happy that he had found people his age and we were together all the time - at our apartament, at the beach or at some of his uncle's houses. One morning I woke up, everybody was still sleeping in the house and I found Ryan on the floor, snoring. I tried to wake him up and make him go home on a comfortable bed but no success - he just wanted to be with us where the party was.

Ryan became a good friend, not only for partying but he shared everything he had. He often was giving me a ride to work and I almost forgot what was riding a bike (I was so happy about that). We could easily talk about many things. I'm glad I met an interesting and funny person.
We've lost connection for few years so Ryan, if you happen to read this please contact me, I'll be very happy.

To be continued

The "upgrade" at home

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program. 20 y.o. girl.Great experience.(The beginning)

We lived in absolutely empty apartment. We had only kitchen equipment but nothing more. Everybody was sleeping on air beds, in sleeping begs or whatever he/she found. We also found two armchairs and we put them on the veranda. But we were lucky and soon we had some new stuff at home.

Do you remember Darnell, the guy that took me to the hospital after the bike crash? Few days after that incident Darnell, his wife and their two little kids came to the restaurant. I was so happy that he accepted my invitation and arranged a dinner for of them. It was funny cause I told the manager that I want to use my 50% discount and he said: "OK, just let me know" when they fare done with their meals". After an hour I looked for him but I didn't find him so I talked to another manager and he finished the order as I asked him. When the first manager came back he said: "Why didn't you wait for me, I could have made you manager discount - 100%?". First I was disappointed but then I realized that this is how things had to happen. The point was that Darnell came and I could thank him.

Paulina, Victoria and me

He started to come over our house. Soon he knew almost all my roommates. We were organizing BBQs, he once took us to dinner, all of us! As he was working in a telecommunication company he offered us a telephone. We were happy, it was not necessary to go to the street phones anymore. One day Darnell came with a washing machine and computer. I was so surprised and didn't know what to say. He said: "Don't worry, I don't use them and you need them". Me and Paulina( a Polish girl) became more closer with him and we frequently were together for walks and shopping for example. He treated us as he treated his kids. We enjoyed taking care of them. The elder sister, Victoria Santana, was so cute 5-6 y.o. girl and her brother was also amazing 2 y.o. boy. When we were alone with them they were driving us crazy but in the good sense.

Everything was fine until some of the Belarusian girls decide  to go home. We checked the bills for the telephone and the Internet and we were surprised to see the bill that was like $1000! What have happened - most of the girls has talked to their friends and family in Belarus, UK, Germany without using prepayed cards as Darnell warned us in the beginning. The Internet in 2003 was not as cheap as it is now. We used some Dial-up connection and we had to pay for it 300 bugs. We mainly used the PC 5-6 people and I agreed to pay about 100 although we had to split it on equal parts. But the telephone I used only with cards. Until we knew the exact amount some of the girls left, others said that they had never made that bills and they collect only 30-40 dollars each. So finally we collected to more than $500. It was so embarrassing. Darnell was very offended, he took his stuff and we never saw him again.

Don't make a phone call unless you're ready to pay for it. Photo by: telegraph.co.uk

I met him, I took him home, he tried to please everybody and what happened - we thanked him like that. I couldn't pay for the others and I hope that he has forgiven me.
Everything on this World in comming back, now I am lied of a person that was very close to me...so when you do something just think about the consequencies.

To be continued

Living without thinking of anything

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program. 20 y.o. girl.Great experience.(The beginning)

Half of the summer was almost past. I already felt as I was at home with the only difference that I didn't have to think about any problems. Because I didn't have such. Because I was there to have fun and be happy. I just had to keep working but is was not hard at all as I liked my job. Every day we did something funny and enjoyable. As I worked from 5 pm to 11-12 pm, I had time to party after work and for the beach in the morning.

The bar, photo by: www.bullyspub.com

The area I worked was called Barefoot Landing and it was full of cafes, restaurants and shops. There was a pub, close to our restaurant (Bully's pub and grill) and we used to visit it often. As I was only 20 they were not supposed to let me in but I tried with Vessy's ID and everything was great. Those guys were paying attention only to the age but not to the picture so that perfectly worked for me. There was a Jukebox inside and we always listened to the music we wanted. I remember one night, we were a big group and I tried the popular "cocktail" - dark beer and a shot inside. And the drink had to be drunk without stopping for taking a breath. It was strange but not bad, only that we got drunk very quickly. Well, I'm not very proud but we were young and we had to try everything. The evening ended wonderful, partying in a motel's swimming pool. It was good they didn't catch us, as only one of the girls was living there and it was forbidden for other people.

Another thing we loved was the beach. We lived only one block far from the ocean and there wasn't almost a day without visiting the beach at least onece a day. Coffee in the morning - at the beach, beer at noon time - at the beach, a nap afternoon - at the beach, volleyball or just hanging out in the evening - at the beach. We even tried night swimming. The water was not cold but to be honest I was afraid of sharks. I'm not sure if there were sharks really but people were talking and the guys were frightening me, that's why I pluck up courage for a night swimming only once.
We also liked to climb on a hotel's roof watching the ocean and enjoying the view in the evening. It was amazing - the lights, the water, the wind and the nice conversations.

Some beach photos made by Jacek:

The view from the roof

Myrtle Beach and the area was a popular golf region and there were golf courses everywhere. I don't know how but one night the guys showed up with 2 golf carts. Without asking too much few people jumped on the cars and we started racing(of course in the golf course not on the streets). It was so much fun.

And once, we were at a party where we drank beer directly from the beer keg... And I also remember that Hawaiian party...

To be continued

The bike crash

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program. 20 y.o. girl.Great experience.(The beginning)

photo by: dsmcommutercomer.wordpress.com 

The only Internet connection we had was in the Library. Unfortunately it was not close to our home but it was for free and we had bikes! So one day on our way back ( I was with Stanimir - one of my roommates) we were driving along the highway and suddenly I felt something hit my bike and I found myself lying on the highway. Yeah, it sounds terrible and it was! The only thing I thought about was: "I have to go back to the sidewalk". I was so lucky there were no cars on the road! Then I saw 5-6 people coming toward me asking me how I felt and if I needed to go to a hospital. I heard myself telling that I was OK. And I thought I was but I was scared.
What have happened? - While we were riding our bikes we have been about to cross a little street where 2 cars have been waiting to include in the highway. But exactly at the moment I have stepped with my bike on the street, the driver has driven off and has hit my front wheel. Those people were probably more scared than me, they were begging me to drive me to the hospital but I refused, I really didn't feel hurt.

They finally left and we stood there for 10 more minutes, I just needed to stop shaking. Then I realised that my bike was broken( luckily they repaired it later). We went to the nearest supermarket to buy some food and at the exit I felt my arm was hurting me a lot. I couldn't go home by pushing my bike. I decided to ask somebody to give me a ride( I was surprised how giving a ride to somebody you don't know was so normal there). There was a little truck at the parking, I simply waited to the driver and asked him to take me home explaining him what have happened to me. Stanimir went home alone as there was no place for his bike and I got on the truck with mine. During the ride my arm started to hurt me more and more and the man offered me to take me to the hospital. This time I agreed, I just wanted to take my insurance and also to take somebody with me. The first guy I saw at home was Jacek. I told him what had happened and he came with us. 

On the way to the hospital we officially met with our driver, his name was Darnell. He was so surprised to know that we were from Eastern Europe, that we were students on work and travel program (what is that???). On the other side he told us he was working in a telephone company, had a family and 2 kids. We had a nice conversation and I was feeling better. In the hospital we had to wait for maybe 2 hours until I was examined by a doctor. Happily there was nothing to worry about except that I had a big bruise on my bottom and I couldn't go to the beach in the next 10 days.

Garden party with Darnell and some of my roommates

When we left the hospital I finally could think and realise the whole situation. I was amazed of what that guy did for me. Darnell spent 4 hours in the evening to help to an unknown girl! I had to thank him somehow so I invited him with his family to the restaurant I worked for dinner. This was the least I could do for him. I'm glad we became friends and although we parted not very well at the end of the summer(it is another story) I will always appreciate what he did for me.

Thanks Darnell and I'm sorry.

To be continued

Part III of my North Myrtle Beach experience

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program. 20 y.o. girl.Great experience.(The beginning)

Two weeks after my arrival we were still living in the same house as in the beginning. The owner of the place also owned 10-12 more houses on the same street along the beach. Nothing bad, except that there were plenty of cockroaches and the rent was high ($75 per week was not a good price for those conditions). So Vessi and I decided to look for another place. We cooperated with some of our neighbours and they also told other people and finally we found a new house. It was not far from the previous one, there were 3 big bedrooms,a kitchen and a living room. But it was not furnished at all (only kitchen appliances). Everybody was sleeping in sleeping bags, on inflatable beds, even there were lucky people that found normal beds on a garden sale(or was it just on the garbage?).The new apartment was not so comfortable but it was clean and cheap($ 100 per month).

The party house

Andrew and Victor in Big Tuna

The only problem was that we were living 15 people from Bulgaria, Poland, Belarus and Slovakia. Well, it was not a problem for us but for our neighbours and for our landlord becuase of the parties. Every evening we were standing at the veranda or in the garden drinking beers. It was my favourite part after work - tired but in a good company. Sometimes there were just quiet conversation but other times it was noisy with loud music and more people. I remember once our neighbours called the Police and we had to stop the party. But it was better that way than to let their huge evil dogs in the yard.

We also liked going to the nearest club (The Big Tuna) and playing pool. It was kind of a  problem for me as I didn't have 21 and I was not allowed to drink alcohol in the bars and even I was not allowed to enter in some of them. Luckily most of my friends were not underaged and they could buy me beers. The bar was located at the beach so very often we just sat there enjoying the evenings by the ocean.

Hardee's, photo by: blog.thegourmez.com 

I really felt good living this way - working 4 days a week(only 25 hours), having fun with people, going to the beach but it was time to look for a second job. I had taken a loan from a friend to do this journey and it was time to think of earning enough money to give it back. It was not easy at all, I was going from shop to shop,from hotel to hotel, from restaurant to restaurant hoping to work whatever they had for me. I was filling out applications every day but with no result. Finally, around the beginning of July I started working in Hardee's (a fast food restaurant). My job was to take the sandwiches from the shelves and sell them to the costumers. It was totally not easy as I thought in the beginning. I was standing all day on my feet (from 8.00 to 14.00) but it was not so bad comparing to the mistreatment of my colleagues toward me. I couldn't believe that people could treat me so bad - shouting at me with no reason, being rude. As I told you I had been working in restaurants with people and never  had such situations before.

One morning I woke up at 9.00. We'd had a big party the previous night and I overslept for work. I was so pissed off to myself for not hearing the alarm clock and I had to decide how to excuse for being late. I jumped in some clothes and on my way to the bathroom I said to myself: "Wait a minute, you are already late for more than an hour, so you could be late for 10 more minutes". Then I made a coffee and sat outside in the garden. I thought: "Why should I go there again? They'll always be jerks! I need a better job and this is the perfect moment to quit and start looking for another one". So I called them and told them that I was sorry but my employer wanted me to work in the morning therefore it would be impossible to work for them in the same time. And that was it - I was again with my 25 working hours per week but I didn't feel miserable anymore.

To be continued

The story continues - memories of North Myrtle Beach,SC

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program. 20 y.o. girl. Great experience.(Go to part I)

This is how the To-go menu looked like

In the next morning I jumped on my new bike and Vessi took me to the restaurant were I was supposed to work and spend the next few months. We were probably 15 people, the last training group of all 40-50 foreigners that had come to work there. The fisrt day they took us to obtain SSN which was totally needed to work in USA. The rest part of the day we spent in learning about Joe's Crab Shack (the restaurant's name, that was serving mainly seafood and of course - crabs). I'm not going to bother you with the training lessons anymore, even I don't remember much of them.


When we were done with the lessons I went to the bike stand and what a surprise - my bike was missing! Yes, there were 3-4 bikes at the stand but not mine. I couldn't believe it, I had spent $60 the previous day and now it was gone. I went back to the restaurant and told one of the managers. She called the Police and they came in few minutes. Maybe this is the time to say that I hadn't locked it - yes, I hadn't bought that locker and somebody had decided to take it. I knew it was my fault but how could I suppose it was possible to happen in America! Oh, yes, it was possible, and I'm glad I realise it in the beginning. The policeman was very kind to me, I wrote down my testimony and he even took me home by the Police car. He told me that it was almost impossible to find my bike as there were so many bikes like mine and it wasn't marked or had any signs. He promised to call me if there was anything new about it and he even offered me to come the next morning and take me to work. I didn't know what to say - was the Police always that kind in the USA or maybe he just saw a silly girl in need or probably he liked me? Anyway, the next morning he took me to the restaurant and I never saw him again.

The Police in NMB,SC, photo by: steve-stevespolicecarhobby.blogspot.com 

The next few days I was studing the menu, the rules of working and I was trying to know better my new colleagues. I also had a new bike (the same as my previous one but already with locker). Vessi met me with other Bulgarian guys that were already working in the restaurant - Donyo and Asya and also with some other people that were living on our street. All of them were from Eastern Europe and everybody had come to live the American dream for the summer.

Joe's Crab Shack used to be of Landry's group up to 2006 

A week passed and we had to start real working. The first thing our managers had to decide was who of us were going to work as waiters and who were about to take other duties in the restaurant. For that reason they made us work with the best waiters in the restaurant. I worked with Brandon. He seemed to be a nice guy and he was telling me different stories all the time. He was talking and talking and I was smiling and laughing all the time although in the beginning I didn't understand much of what he was saying( I had a good English but not so much and also American accent was totally new for me). At the end of the day I noticed that he was talking to one of the managers and later I saw my name in the waiter's schedule. Thanks to Brandon and my abilities of course (I had worked as a waitress in Bulgaria for 2 years till that moment) I was already a waitress in Joe's.


To be continued

Memories of North Myrtle Beach,SC - the beginning

USA.SC.North Myrtle Beach.Work and Travel Program. 20 y.o. girl. Great experience.

The next few articles won't be about what to do or what to see or where to go somewhere in the World. They would be about some of my feelings and thoughts in my 4 months stay in The States. I'll skip all the preparation of the big journey and start with my landing in USA.

Every day for 4 months I was enjoying that view

Even stepped on American land I already felt different. Was it because of the date - Friday 13-th, or because of the wide dark boulevards of New York City, or maybe because I hadn't slept for more than 24 hours, or maybe because I was alone in those big city thousands km far from home, I don't know. I only know it was strange and extremely exciting. After a good long sleep in Columbia University I had to go on my journey to North Myrtle Beach where I had a contract with a restaurant to work as a waitress or a retail or a food runner or a hostess, I didn't know what would happen and what should I expect.

Anyway, I found myself at the bus station in NYC, bought my ticket to Myrtle Beach and started to look for baggage storage. I had 8 hours to the bus and Manhattan was waiting for me. Unfortunately I couldn't find such, they told me that after September 11-th they didn't let people leave their luggage. I stood there in the middle of the station with 2 large bags, ready to cry as I didn't expect this situation at all. Well, I couldn't go anywhere with that heavy luggage but I met an Albanian guy who spent all that time with me. I had no idea(and still don't have) what have been his intentions and what has he pointed at but I'm glad I had a nice company during my long stay at the station. He even sent me on the bus telling me that he was going to wait for me when I go back, lol. It was funny of course but it's always nice to see that somebody is smiling to you.

Waiting...photo by in.com

The next 15 hours were really exhausting. I traveled 1100km, spent 3 hours in the middle of the night at bus station Richmond with some strange people, couldn't sleep good, was hungry,...all those negative things about a long journey. Finally around 11.00 am I got off in Myrtle Beach and called the manager of the restaurant to pick me up. A lady came, not really smiling and friendly, but at least she took me to the house where Vessi had already lived (Me and Vessy got to know each other few months before that).The lady (she was one of the restaurant's managers) told me to be in the restaurant the next morning at 10.00am.

Highway 17 South, photo by aaroads.com

The same day Vessi met me with few girls from the house(from Belarus) and she gave me some information about what was happening there. First of all, I realised that I need to buy a bike! Wow, I hadn't ridden such thing for 8 years. But there was no other chance unless I wanted to walk 5 km to the restaurant each direction every day. There was one guy, I think from Poland, that had a motorbike and he drove me to the nearest store, which was like only 8-10km far from the house, that I could buy a bike . He left me there and I bought my bike. On my way back I was riding on the highway trying to focus on riding in a straight line which was almost impossible. Cars were passing around me and I was feeling so miserable and lonely. And after that shocking experience for me I was told that they don't sell alcohol on Sunday in South Carolina...and I needed a cold beer to relax at least at the end of the day. Luckily we were close to NC where they didn't have such low and the Polish guy went to buy a pack of beer.

It was only the 3-d evening of my travel but I had already experienced so much. At least I felt like that. And I was ready to meet my summer and the new things that were going to happen to me.

To be continued