The trip to USA itself was strange. The flights from Vilnius to NY went well, I was sitting besides nice polish girl, which kept me company the hole trip. When I reached NY, I took a metro to a bus station. Apparently, there was a maintenance in the part of the metro, so it took a detour around his usual route - of course it was the wrong way for me. Then I bought a ticket for a bus from NY to Atlantic city NJ, but when I went to my gate they told me that the bus will be late for more than hour, lady suggested me to take another one. So that's what I did. I actually had a nice trip, I was sitting with a Russian girl Violet, whom was in USA for a week already, so she told me about her experience here so far. Apparently the bus took me to a Caesar casino in Atlantic city, so I had to find the bus station there. Of course, people warned me to be careful, cause neighbourhood was not safe for white people. Eventually, I did find the bus station there, but it was already around 11 PM. I tried to call my employer to let him know how is my trip going, but apparently my phone is unable to call any US number, but is able to call any other number worldwide... I tried asking people for help, but didn't receive any help. Then I took a bus from Atlantic city to Wildwood NJ, where I suppose to work. What happened next was that the bus broke down in the middle of the way there, we had to wait an hour or more for another bus to pick us up. Eventually I reached the city, but it was the middle of the night and I was 3 miles away from where I had to be, so I took a walk. When I reached my employers house, the lights were on (like in half of the houses that I have seen), but there was no door bell, so I tried knocking 3 times, but didn't receive any answer. I decided to sleep on coach which was on a porch of the house. I have to mention that it was raining the hole day in Wildwood, so everything was wet. I turned around the pillows and worked with what I had. Of course, eventually (around 4 or 5 AM) employer woke up and went for a smoke, where he saw me on the porch. Then he let me inside, we talked for a while and at last I had some real rest.
The next day I was filling documents for a half of the day and then I went searching for a place to stay, cause I didn't have one. Most of the places that I liked where full. Of course, I really enjoyed living in Amsterdam, so I was trying to find something similar, but sadly - unsuccessfully. I am staying at the house with a couple of Lithuanians and we have Lithuanian girls living just next door. The place didn't even have an oven, stove, no Internet connection, just a microwave, toaster and a fridge. Right now we are borrowing Internet from one of our neighbours. The next day we got good news, the landlord said to us that he will bring us a stove and that he indeed did. At last I will be able to cook a worm meal. Well I did that before at neighbours, but it is nice to have it inside our house. Of course, as soon as we got a stove, I went to shop to get some decent food. There aren't many people who are traveling alone, so I am quite happy with what I have. It could have been much worse. I feel safe, cause the neighbourhood is much better than the other one that I have checked. They are nice and friendly. In total, I think I found a good place to live.
I have already bought a bicycle for 35 $ and they told me that at the end of the season they will buy it back for 10 $, it's a little bit crappy bike, but it's something (similarly as in Amsterdam). Of course, the next day landlord told me that he has 2 good free bicycles which he could have just given to us, but it's OK, 35 $ is cheaper than I expected anyways. Also, even though cloths are really cheap here, but food stores are terrible, at least from the first impression. The food is expensive and they don't have any variety and I am not even going to a small shops (which don't have anything at all), I am going to the biggest one that I know, which a couple of people have recommended to me.
Also, I started working immediately. At the first day of my work, everything seems to be very technical, I have to learn phrases and answer customers with them. I hope that I will be able to get used to them, cause the first day I felt a little bit trapped and controlled. But they might be right, cause I have to be more polite and I might not know how to do it in a right (usual for them) way as well as all other students that are working with us. It can just be an easy way to teach us how to speak with people here, cause I saw the difference in communication instantly when I arrived here. Everybody is very nice and helpful, so everything will be just fine.
At last, I reached my last day of training (4th one). I might have done a little bit better than expected, cause today almost all day long I was alone (I wasn't inspected by other all day long) and I think I did everything okay (if seen, somebody would have corrected me). Plus after my boss tested my skills, I got a lot of work hours. Actually, my first free day will be next Sunday, but it's okay, cause sometimes I have to be at work around 5 PM, so I can rest well, as well as do something for myself (for example, tomorrow I am going to the beach before leaving to work). That's mainly why I think that I did good. I didn't expect it, cause the first three days were kind of slow for me. I have made many small mistakes during the first three days. For example, just saying the special with one word different than it should be.
A couple of days ago, at some point we realized that NBA finals are on (the 6th game), so it was really nice to watch a game and have a beer. Two days after, I was able to see the last half of the 7th game after work, it is nice, cause I don't have to wake up in the middle of the night to see the game.
This is what happened so far, I will try to take some pictures, when I get an opportunity. Right now, I am waiting for tomorrow, cause I am going to the beach in the morning just to enjoy the sun and the ocean :)
