Chapter 1 The Present Today you will read a short story about participants in a student exchange program, but the events take place in different time periods. The main characters are connected not only by this program but also by blood ties. I. The first chapter begins in the autumn of 2021, when Leila, a second-year student at the Kazakhstan-British Technical University, finally decided to test her fate and participate in a student exchange program. Throughout the autumn and winter, she was busy submitting documents and preparing for her embassy interview to obtain a visa. I think every program participant was a little nervous before this interview, just like Leila, but fortunately for her, everything went smoothly, and she received her long-awaited visa in the middle of spring. A month later, she was sitting in a spacious passenger plane on a flight from Almaty to New York... II. And finally, the pilot announces, "Ladies and gentlemen! This is your Captain speaking. We have arrived at our destination. Welcome to New York City!" Very mixed feelings overwhelmed the fragile girl in the big, noisy, bright city. Unique delight was intertwined with slight excitement and anticipation of everything she saw. Two days later, she was already in a small coastal town on the border of Alabama, having settled into a small, cozy house with her roommates. Leila realized that she would spend these two and a half months in this town with these people. She got a job at a local family restaurant, where she worked as a waitress. (photo 1) There weren't many people, but there was no time to slack off either. I won't hide the fact that the first weeks were not easy for our heroine; the language barrier and cultural shock had a strong influence. How good it is that by this time she had become very close to her new friends. Sophie clearly became a very close person with whom Leila stopped feeling lonely. They handled all the difficulties together. And now, after a month, it seemed that everything was going surprisingly smoothly and well. An excellent and understanding chef, a supportive and loyal friend, very friendly and welcoming customers, and the ocean a couple of kilometers away could not help but please. Anyone would feel like the main character of an American youth TV series. III. Finally, after long and hard working days, the well-deserved 2-week vacation arrived before the start of classes. The girls had long been looking forward to this exciting trip around America. So many unseen places, and so little time. Their grand plans included visiting the Walk of Fame, the Grand Canyon, and Universal park. Leila's notes. Note one. Vacation. This is the first day of our time off. Sophie and I rented a compact Kia Rio for two weeks. We set off for the Grand Canyon. Our acquaintance with the Grand Canyon began at dawn from the Mather Point viewpoint. Honestly, I have never in my life watched the sun rise from behind the mountains. It is an incredible sight. (photo 2) Note two. We also visited Universal park, specifically the magical world of Harry Potter. I am overflowing with delight; finally, another childhood dream has been fulfilled. (photo 3, 4) Note three. We finally arrived in New York, our last stop. At every subway station, there are musicians hanging out, maybe unemployed, maybe not, and as always, full of tourists, people with suitcases, noise, and bustle. We walked through Central Park; morning walks without tourists are very important for the locals. And in the evening, we went up to the Rockefeller Center, which offers an amazing view of New York. (photo 5) On this note, I finish describing my days, because tomorrow I will fly home) Leila's adventures in the USA came to an end, I would have written with full confidence if not for the events that happened the next day. In the morning, after eating delicious Lucky Charms cereal, the girls headed to the airport. Each of them missed their family and home immensely, but there was still a litt
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