America... A word that holds so many warm memories, hitting you from head to toe like a tsunami in moments of nostalgia. I am sure that for everyone, the Work and Travel trip became a turning point in their life. We became more responsible, hardworking, tolerant, mature, less squeamish, and most importantly, we learned to value time and not waste it. Tiring flights to NYC with a seven-hour layover in Helsinki, two days without sleep were definitely worth it to finally end up in the capital of the world! NYC, I love you – that's what I wanted to scream at that moment. Those huge skyscrapers majestically reaching into the sky, that yellow taxi honking from everywhere, those endless crowds of tourists curiously looking at the sights, those blinding lights of the sleepless Times Square. That is how NYC appeared to me. At some point, I felt like the heroine of a movie about a girl from a small Siberian town who ended up in the center of a crazy metropolis in search of adventure. By the way, she did manage to find those adventures) After wandering around NYC and spending the night at Starbucks, we headed to the bus station, where a bus picked us up to Lake George. It is a small town where Americans come to have a quiet, peaceful vacation. There are picturesque forests, wild nature, and most importantly, Lake George, or as it is otherwise called, the "queen of American lakes," the main charm of the town. But besides natural beauties, the town was not deprived of entertainment for every taste and color: here you can find museums, amusement parks, boat tours, parasailing behind a speedboat, a huge number of restaurants, bars, cafes, and every Thursday they held live concerts in the local park. At the beginning of the season, there was an unreal "Bike week". Throughout the week, the city streets were filled with the coolest motorcycles, from classic retro styles to modern models. The roar of the engine, spreading throughout the city, thrilled to the bones. And at the end of the season, we were awaited by the "Car Show", an event dedicated to cars. What a sight! Americans know how to relax and have fun. Speaking of Americans. Their smile is not that forced after all) I noticed that they assume every person is good by default, and until you ruin the impression of yourself, be kind, accept their smile and smile back. That's how it works in America) You actually get used to their mentality quickly, or rather to their boundless politeness and constant "excuse me" and "have a good day". Also, Americans are generous with compliments. Once at the supermarket checkout, a nice girl told me: "I really like your outfit!", which slightly embarrassed me, and at the same time it was pleasant. Well, I'm not used to compliments from strangers))) "Your English is so good" or "Oh, such a beautiful handwriting" – that's what you could also hear) There are not that many overweight people there, and in general, I consider this the most common myth. Americans play sports, watch their health, maybe not everyone, but the majority. I worked all summer as a housekeeper in a small hotel right on the shore of the lake. Sometimes ducks helped clean the rooms, curiously walking along the terrace and looking into all the doors. Besides me, other students worked there too. Someone from Turkey, someone from Albania, someone from Georgia, someone from Kazakhstan. A real cultural exchange) In our free time, we went to the beach, to the movies, or just walked along the cozy streets of Lake George. But something stuck in my memory the most. The day we managed to get free tickets and go to the "Great Escape" amusement park. It was something! We arrived 3 hours before closing and decided that we would only ride the attractions with the red "maximum thrill" label. A childhood dream came true. How I screamed, and not so much from fear as from the emotions overflowing me. The Americans themselves sat with a stone face, and the children rode several times in a row. But one time w
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