Virgin River: was in der Nähe ist, wie man hinkommt und wann man fährt · 2026

NANataliia Alekseevavovkina_docha · 15.12.2018Lesen

Our last day of work under the offer was September 15th, but due to the approaching Hurricane Florence, many vacationers left and there was no work at the hotel. Everyone living in the danger zone was strongly advised to evacuate, but like true Russians, we stocked up on juice and sweets and sat in front of the TV, waiting for the hurricane (my high school safety teacher would have had a heart attack if he knew about this). But the hurricane never reached us; on our last workday, we just went to work and said goodbye to our managers and the guys we had worked with all summer. For the last two days of our stay in Virginia Beach, we walked along the beach, drank coffee, and just enjoyed the moment. On the evening of the 17th, we started our journey. Virginia Beach - Orlando - Miami - New York. There were five of us, and we went by car. It turned out that none of us had planned the route taking into account the hurricane in North and South Carolina. The main highway and some other roads were closed; they were flooded in places due to heavy rainfall. For about 20 hours, we zigzagged in search of an open road, periodically receiving GPS notifications like, 'Beep, beep, evacuate this area immediately, flooding will occur here in a few hours!' It was scary; there was no gas at the gas stations. The Americans we asked for directions told us to wait a couple of days in a nearby hotel, but again, the Russian spirit inside us said, 'Are you kidding? Orlando is waiting for us, we can't just sit in some hotel just because everything is flooded and the roads are closed!' And so, tired and sleepy, we reached Orlando and checked into a hotel. Here is a cool life hack: if you worked at a hotel like we did, ask your manager for a corporate discount; it will save you a decent amount of money. On the second day, we went to Universal Studios. These are gorgeous attractions, the whole atmosphere, the scenery... simply the embodiment of a childhood dream. The park will appeal to everyone, both fans of science fiction films like me, and those who are not thrilled with sci-fi, like my friend. By the end of the day, there were no lines; we were a little tired, but we still went for a second, and sometimes a third, round on the rides.

LGLiaysan Gilfanovaiglr2 · 10.12.2018Lesen

As much as it was a pity to leave New York, further adventures awaited us, so we packed our bags and headed further into the state where we were to spend an entire summer – Virginia. Before the trip, all I knew about this state was that after the War of Independence, it was the main political center of the country and that the authors of the Constitution came from this state. Now, having returned to my homeland, I can safely say that, alas, this is still all I know about this state. With the exception of the names of new cities, my piggy bank of knowledge in this area has not been replenished. We worked and lived in the coastal town of Virginia Beach. Obviously, the city is mainly for tourists, so we worked in a hotel. It was hard. Very. But we managed, largely thanks to understanding managers and a simply wonderful team. We met a huge number of people from different corners of the earth; I will say right away that at the time of being in the USA, the most useful acquaintances are acquaintances with Americans. They will tell you where to find something, how to get there, and most often they will take you there themselves, and they also know how to have fun. Largely thanks to these acquaintances, work for all of us brought joy and was not something that had to be endured in order to have a good rest later. One way or another, at the end of the summer, it was very difficult to part with colleagues, neighbors, and friends, but we knew that an exciting journey awaited us ahead, which, like for many, began with Las Vegas. Now I might shock someone, and someone might want to argue with me, but for me, Las Vegas is the most boring city I have ever been to. Not only in the USA, but in the whole world. Las Vegas, to be honest, is one long street along which dozens of hotels, casinos, shops, and restaurants are located. And that's... it. Besides, it is incredibly hot here, exactly the degree of heat that is usually described with the words "the asphalt was melting." It is not surprising that we escaped from this city quite quickly. Of the parks we visited, I would like to mention the Grand Canyon and Sequoia National Park. To put it very briefly, the second one looks like a green version of the first. Although okay, I'm lying. These are amazing, completely different places with unique energy. The Grand Canyon cannot be accurately described, nor can its beauty be conveyed in a photo. When you stand at the top and look down with a sinking heart, an irresistible desire arises to soar upward like eagles soaring along the towering walls of the canyon, and fly around at least a small part, to feel and see what is available only to birds. After all, if I, standing right here on the edge, am so struck and fascinated by these views, what does an eagle feel? Sequoia National Park is diametrically opposite in every sense of the word. It is dense, green, it is not so hot here, and in general, with its coloring, it is much more familiar to the Russian eye. From one of the observation decks, an amazing view opens up of hills covered with trees reaching high into the sky. This whole place reminds me of scenes from old Jurassic Park movies; you keep expecting a Tyrannosaurus to growl somewhere, a Brachiosaurus to show its long neck, or a flock of Pterodactyls to fly by.

RMRoza Magerramovaroza.tula · 24.11.2015Lesen

As for work, we were given uniforms on the very first day and started learning the basics of being a sandwich artist—sounds pretty cool, right? That’s exactly the position listed on our JobOffer. For those worried that you won't get hired without experience, I can tell you one thing: they will teach you everything here, and it’s not as difficult as it might seem. Of course, you spend a long time with the same people at work, and it might feel a bit uncomfortable at first (unusual atmosphere, new people, language barrier). However, over time, you might find a true friend in this work environment, just like we did. The main principle is to be an open and positive person, and everything else will fall into place. By the way, Cirque du Soleil came to Virginia Beach this summer. Guess who bought tickets for the premiere right away? Yes, that was us. We went with our roommates and friends from work, and we got a fireworks display of emotions from the show and a bunch of souvenirs to remember it by. However, I’d like to give a little advice to those planning to visit Las Vegas (and there will definitely be some). It’s better to watch all shows and concerts there. Let me explain why: all the stages and venues in Las Vegas are incredibly huge and equipped specifically for spectacular performances, so that’s where you should really catch various shows. But since we weren't sure if we would visit the West Coast, we decided to play it safe and went to see Cirque du Soleil in Virginia Beach. I’ll also tell you about an incredible and attractive opportunity specifically for J-1 students and residents of Virginia Beach. I didn't find out about it as early as I would have liked, but still. Every Tuesday, there were meetings at a local church. And don't let the fact that it took place in a church bother you. Nobody here cares about your religion, skin color, etc. At 7:00 PM, they held charity evenings at this church where they fed poor and hungry students. I’m exaggerating, of course, but this was often a place where you could NOT ONLY see but also eat healthy food, which is a huge plus. Many have heard that it can be quite difficult to eat healthy in America because of the large amount of snacks and soda that surrounds you everywhere. At the church, they also offer various trips not far from Virginia Beach that are really interesting and don't cost that much. I was lucky enough to attend these evenings only twice, and both times were very interesting and definitely filling. That’s where I met some incredibly interesting people whom I still remember with a smile on my face to this day. One very kind woman even gave me two books before I left, for which I am incredibly grateful. Young people, the organizers' children, adults, and, of course, if you try, you can find elderly people full of life and love for others who are eager to share their life stories with you, listen to your adventures, and learn about life in Russia. 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 :) http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCUlCHm_Xj_VVXYXIn2c3rsw

ENElizaveta Noreastpatterns · 23.11.2015Lesen

Conditions of the expiration date of J1 visa allowed me to stay in US extra 30 days but I was planning to take the plane back to Russia on 15th of September because my closest people had their birthdays this month, my girlfriend was getting married and my study had already got started. During my staying in US I was texting with a guy from my hometown that left it for living in LA. He knew that originally the only dream I had about US was San Francisco so he bought tickets for both of us on Grayhound from SF to LA. Despite all this important events I had at home I considered to delay my departure to follow my dream. Maine is the most northern state on the west coast on the border with Canada so it’s pretty far from the east coast of California, where I had to be to take this bus. Anyway we found apartments in San Francisco on airbnb, all green with two dogs, garden and hot tab on the roof. I’ve never seen him before so I had some flowers in my hair that we can recognize each other. As I figured out then he had never though about this song so he decided that I am crazy about flowers. We spent three days walking up and down hills of San Francisco, talking about everything in the way that we knew each other for long. Еще до того, как мы встретились, в одной из наших бесед я сказала, что хотела бы посмотреть на Grand Canyon. Я не имела ни малейшего представления что это, и ему пришлось объяснить, что это не туристическое место, где можно просто сделать фото на память, а часть бескрайних национальных парков с удивительной необъятной красотой нетронутой природы. У меня был печальный опыт блужданий по горам хребта Сихотэ-Алинь, которым я поделилась, и он был первым человеком, который так ответственно подошел к походу со мной в горы. По дороге в Юту он сказал, что хочет показать мне одно место, где мы могли бы поужинать. Я была в летнем платье и сандалиях, настроенная на природу и поход, а место, которое он хотел показать был Лас Вегас. Я понимаю, как он может покорять людей, крадя их время в казино и напускной роскоши отелей, но декорации, люминесценция, манекены и страсти людей предстали предо мной во всей своей наготе, к чему я не совсем была готова. Я так же готова согласиться, что каждый волен проводить время так, как ему нравится, но лучшее, что я чувствовала там, радость за то, что могу выбирать лес и горы. Я описала нашу поездку в письме Алекс, девушке, которая владела рестораном, где я работала: Hi Alex! I spent couple days hiking in National Parks. I didn't write you earlier because I turned off all electronic devices to be free from technologies and closer to nature. We went there through Utha, first national park that we've visited was Bryce, trails ran through mountains, called hoodoos, it's odd-shapes pillars of rock, they look extraordinary because of nature forces and erosion, and it could be imagined, that mountain rage forms fantasy castles, in the splendid and magnificence of this canyon you could feel the reminiscent of the passage of time. Its massive sandstone cliffs of cream, pink and red soared to the sky. They were sun burnt and looked like deserts or Mars. On our way to the next national park we chose the wrong serpentine road, nature was so different, autumn has already came there so all trees were in fire. Second place that we've been was Zyon National Park, But the filling of this park was full of life because of the emerald mountain creek flowing down the slopes to the Virgin river . It waters soil and mountain feet are very green. Poplars with silver leaves are so tall there. In our trip we reached the place called Angels Landing.

EKEkaterina Kudriavtsevakate_rina-93 · 23.11.2015Lesen

On the way to my workplace, I had time to dream and reflect on what awaited me next. Fortunately, I had already met three Russian students who, just like me, were headed to a cozy, quiet town on the Atlantic coast in Virginia – Virginia Beach. I will say right away that before leaving, I heard many not-so-pleasant reviews saying it was a very boring place. Let me debunk that myth! It can only be boring where there is no desire to seek adventure and make fun, interesting acquaintances! Yes, Virginia Beach is not Miami with all its gloss, expensive bars and restaurants, beautiful beaches, and pretentious energy. It is a quiet and cozy town that has its own atmosphere and its own "gloss," as well as, in my opinion, a sufficient number of entertainment options for every taste. And yet, the main thing is not the presence of bars or nightclubs in the city, but your environment! The greatest happiness I experienced while in America comes down to spending time with the people who surrounded me. Dozens of students from different countries who arrived through the Work and Travel USA program, Americans, as well as Russian-speaking guys who have been living in America for a long time, friends of friends, acquaintances of friends of friends, etc. – it's like you end up in a reality show where everyone knows each other, where everything reigns: from love and friendship, joy and fun to tears and partings. Therefore, first and foremost, a trip to the USA through this program is a good "school of life"! Of course, one should not forget that the Work and Travel USA program is, first and foremost, an international cultural exchange program! In addition to interacting with Americans, I met amazing people from countries such as Ukraine, Moldova, Turkey, Kosovo, Romania, Montenegro, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, the Czech Republic, and Belarus. I became convinced that, no matter how banal it may sound, it really does not matter that we spoke different languages. Despite cultural characteristics, the mentality of each country, religion, and so on, we all felt like a single whole. Young, open to everything new, friendly, we shared stories about the traditions of our countries with each other, learned to speak and understand certain phrases in another language. It is pleasant for me to realize that I became part of the cultural exchange process, that I not only learned a lot about other nationalities but also contributed to others' knowledge of Mother Russia.

VMValeriya Matyukhinalera.matyukhina · 31.01.2015Lesen

That's exactly what we did. For a whole month, we were booking tickets and deciding what to visit in each city; in short, preparations were in full swing. It wasn't without a lump in our throats that we said goodbye to our Virginia Beach, to all the people we met and befriended, and headed to Washington (that's where our flight to San Francisco was departing from). We actually missed our bus from Norfolk (a city near Virginia Beach) because saying goodbye to the city or just wanting to hang out didn't let us get to sleep on time. As a result, after sleeping for an hour or two, we were woken up by a loud knock on the door from a Russian guy who had agreed to drive us to the bus station. Throwing our last unpacked things and some food into our suitcases, we bolted out of the house and took off. We arrived at the bus station five minutes late, but that was enough for the Greyhound bus, which rarely left on time, to pull away right from under our noses. After paying our "taxi driver" extra, we caught up with it in Hampton, the neighboring city. We spent two days in Washington, the capital of the USA. To our surprise, the weather was warmer, or maybe we were just lucky, because Virginia saw us off with rain despite such a southern climate all summer. What can I say about Washington? It might be a stretch, but if you compare it to Russia, Washington is like Saint Petersburg: a capital city, but with a less hectic atmosphere, beautiful architecture, and a more measured pace of life. And New York reminds me of Moscow with its scale, noise, fun, and traffic. If they say that a person prefers either Moscow or Saint Petersburg, I can say the same about Washington and New York. I liked the American capital more. We didn't make it to the museums (we ran out of time), although most of them are free in Washington. But we managed to walk around plenty, saw the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and the White House itself! And we just strolled through the cozy streets of the capital. By the evening of the second day, we headed to the train station with all our suitcases (and their number exceeded the number of people), stood there blankly in front of the terminal for a bit, but still managed to handle such a "difficult" task as buying a train ticket and went to the airport in Baltimore. We sat there hungry and freezing all night. All that was left of our food was an open jar of peanut butter and some tea bags. I went up to different cafes every time and asked for "some boiling water" with a pitiful look. In the same waiting area, there were scales to check if your suitcase was overweight. We couldn't think of anything better than to weigh ourselves instead :)

NZNatalia Zhilinanataliazhilina · 31.01.2015Lesen

Our first day of work arrived. I was very nervous because, to some extent, this was my first work experience, and in America of all places. I never even thought such a thing was possible! The hotel team welcomed us; everyone turned out to be friendly and tried to teach us everything they knew. Housekeeping work is hard, let me tell you. You can get tired easily! And they demand speed from you! We handled that easily. Our first paycheck, as our employer said, was supposed to be exactly in a week. We forgot all about it, immersing ourselves in American life. We also arrived just in time, as we were told later. Throughout the following week, our employer hosted various barbecues for the hotel team. That way, we got to know everyone better, and it wasn't in vain—now we knew who could be trusted and who couldn't. During that week, we spent time with the team, eating fried bacon, delicious ice cream, and we even had a pizza day. One day we went to a cafe where we ordered a bunch of American goodies; luckily, we didn't have to pay for it, although we wouldn't have minded. We didn't live in a very crowded place, that's a fact, but we weren't disappointed at all. Yes, living on the coast is cool and fun; we saw all of that. Dancing, magic tricks, singing at bars—it's all wonderful, a huge plus. But we had a plus too. Not far away, in Norfolk, we went shopping at a mall; it has everything, absolutely! There was no need to wait for a big city to buy clothes or souvenirs. Moreover, the state tax in Virginia is lower than, for example, in New York. On our days off, we usually went to the beach to swim or to Norfolk. Soon, another girl from China joined us. And it was with her that I discovered American movie theaters. Going to the movies for $7 to see the new Transformers? Why not! I was in America, I could do whatever I wanted. Especially since I was earning money and could afford such a pleasure. By the way, we didn't find assigned seats in the theater; we just walked in and chose a comfortable spot in the hall ourselves. I like this better than in Russia; I was even a little surprised by such a difference. Sometimes in Russia, you pay more for a comfortable seat in a cinema, but here... everyone is equal. And also, for some reason, I didn't see sweet popcorn in their theaters, which is very strange. Every day we discovered new horizons. This included supermarkets like Walmart. Ours was a forty-minute walk away. And honestly, it was our physical exercise. We walked there and back with backpacks and hands full of bags, returning to the hotel. Sometimes even with a cart—yes, that happened too! We could spend hours in that supermarket. They sell so much stuff, even bicycles. By the way, a bicycle would be a budget-friendly means of transport if you didn't bring your driver's license, as I did. Sometimes we heard Russian speech in that same supermarket. In Virginia Beach, there are actually a lot of Russian speakers. These are students, tourists, and those who moved there a long time ago. You can spot tourists right away, for example, on the beach. They talk very loudly in Russian and think that no one understands them; I witnessed it myself. And if you are really afraid to speak English, there will always be someone who understands you and will help. A significant holiday for Americans was approaching—Independence Day. Oh, how I waited for this day. I desperately wanted to feel the atmosphere of the holiday, the general joy. But this holiday was slightly overshadowed. All festive events were moved to July 5th because of Hurricane Arthur, which hit the East Coast. Since we didn't live on the coast, we were luckier. We were only hit by heavy rain and gusty winds, but by evening, the weather improved, and the mood lifted again. The next day we went to watch the fireworks; of course, it didn't go without a couple of purchases and pizza. A huge number of people went out to the embankment to dance and witness the holiday with their own eyes. An a

VMValeriya Matyukhinalera.matyukhina · 31.01.2015Lesen

We were on the road for seven hours, and throughout the entire trip, a little Chinese child was just screaming his lungs out. It would have been fine—who knows, maybe he was in pain—if not for two "buts": the baby's mom, not knowing how to calm him down, chose not the best method, let me tell you. She was desperately shaking him and shouting to the whole bus, "What's wrong with you, baby?" (as if he were carefully hiding it), and another equally stupid question was, "Can you hear me?". No, she's practically screaming into his ear so the whole bus can hear, but he can't hear her. Not getting a coherent answer from her child, she would start shaking him even more, yelling, "Stoooop!!!". This lovely scene of family idyll was interrupted only by a solid dark-skinned lady who was talking just as loudly on the phone with her sister. The thing is, this lady's friend had slept with her husband, and she had caught them and was full of determination to take revenge on him with his own friend. The tone of the conversation was heating up, and my supply of indecent English was no longer enough... A pity, there were so many more details and plans for devastating revenge. So, neither my player, nor my reader, nor my travel pillow were needed. Closer to night, we arrived in Virginia Beach. Back in Russia, I had met some Russian girls who have been living there for ten years. They agreed to let us stay for the summer for a very reasonable fee and a deposit, which we subsequently managed to lose. We stained the carpet, tried to wash it, and it ended up with pink spots, and the deposit washed away forever. But otherwise, we were very lucky with housing: unlike other students, we lived in a HOUSE, not a dorm, three people in a room, two rooms and a living room, a fully equipped kitchen, a backyard—in short, everything a person dreams of when going to America. Oh yes, and an American flag in the backyard. I won't describe every day; that threatens to turn into a thick novel, so I'll try to tell you about the most interesting parts and not bore my readers.