The Offer You Can't Deny

              Whenever I got home I called my mom. I'm just very happy that I have this kind of relationship and communication with my mom. She's more than just a parent to me, she's my friend who I trust 100%.
              - Hi, - somehow my voice wasn't that stable anymore. I'm sorry, I think I kind of suck. I thought I could do anything, and it's been just week, and I feel like I failed, I'm afraid that I'll give up... I mean, I promise, I'll find a way. We've always found one. What? Mom! I know.... Okay.... Thanks.
              Through our conversation. the person, who I'm grateful for who I am now, gave me probably the greatest advice I could get at this point. She told me to stop thinking about money, which she let me to borrow from her, and to understand that this kind of mood does not suit the city or me. 'Everything you get, everybody you meet is your own reflection, so if you're sad, concentrated on money and hopeless, you probably won't find things you should find.'
              Even though, usually I'm the person who makes most of the decisions in my life pretty independently, this time my mom, which happened in my kindergarten for the last time I think, told me what to do. 'Use this week exploring the city, finding new awesome places, meeting interesting and friendl
y people and just enjoying your time. Oh, and get a new pair of jeans!'
              Do I need to say that I was totally ok with such an order?
              The next day I got to the ATM and got some money which honestly already made me happy (that makes me sound like a total dependent on materialistic world). The first thing to get in NYC for some touristic exploring? 1-week Unlimited Metro Card!
              The night before I created the top list of places I wanted to visit in NYC.
              Central Park was #1 in this list.
              So wearing typical Central Park uniform - tank top, shorts and headphones, I went on my real New York City run. Running on the path and observing all the gorgeous views of the nature including blooming flowers, shadowy trees and singing birds, I could not believe I'm in the heart of Manhattan until I looked up and saw the tops of skyscrapers.
              The sun was warming up not only the city, but all of us - joggers, bikers, skaters. It was getting hotter and hotter every minute, so I decided that such a great morning start for my NYC experience should be continued with a cup of coffee and a book. Maybe for you, my dear reader, it doesn't mean anything special, but for me this was a moment of true happiness which later became my normal mood in the city of dreams. Sitting on the grass in the tree's shadow with a great book by my favorite author in my hands with a cup of amazing strong dark roast, I though to myself: 'what else is happiness, if not this?'

                As I was pretty close to Strawberry Fields, I definitely went there to see the place I've listened the song about hundreds of times. Just a few meters from it, I saw the peace sign with flowers covering it and a few pictures of John Lennon in the center. I couldn't believe that I actually have this opportunity , this honor to be here. Right around the corner I saw the building where John Lennon was killed. Being the Beatles fan since I was 12 these places were some kind of sacred territory where I was allowed to go which was very important and valuable to me.
              Just following random paths and enjoying the weather I saw a statue. 'I definitely saw it before,' - I thought. And in a few seconds realizing what it is, I actually said out loud, which I have to admit was very unexpected and out of nowhere to other people: "Balto!" It was one of my favorite movies when I was little, and here it is, the monument I've seen in movies so many times. It felt like I was inside the movie! I was about 4 or 5 when I was watching it. This made me to realize that tomorrow is my birthday. Would I ever believe if somebody 15 or even 5 years ago told me that my 19th birthday I'll be celebrating in the city that never sleeps, the city where your dreams become true, the city that gives or breaks hopes?

Do the Harlem shake

            I knew approximately where I’m supposed to go. Well, I knew it by looking at maps. So I was totally relying on Google Maps. And here I am in La Guardia airport with violin, backpack and two heavy suitcases that were barely accepted with the limit of acceptable weight.

            I got to the bus station which was pretty full of people. At that moment I relied that communication skills aren't that bad in NYC. People offered me help and put my luggage inside the bus.

            On the way from the airport I was looking at the skyscrapers, bridges, the river, few private cars and the yellow ocean of taxis surrounding our bus. People around me had very serious faces on, while I was smiling as a little child. Everything looked like some part of  a movie to me.

            Asking which stop it was and if I had not missed mine, I finally got to final stop and changed to subway.

-                                - Good afternoon, ma'am. How can I get to subway? Do I need some kind of card? – I asked the lady in the assistance box. 
                                   - 2.50, - she replied to me. Her face showed pretty well that she was amazed with my smartness.

Some people helped me to drop my luggage over the entrance machines. Now I had to get to 145^th. I had no clue which train or which way I’m supposed to go. Asking people, they asked me only one question: “Uptown or downtown?” I didn’t know as I was acknowledged with the name of my final station only.

Somehow, asking people on the streets and working some inner maps in my head, I figured out where the house is. How happy I was! I’m almost home.

In a few minutes I realized that my apartment was on 6^th floor with no elevator.

I experienced a great workout carrying my luggage. After about 15 minutes, sweaty and tired, I rang the bell on my new apartment's door. I didn't realize how fast everything happened and I gave away nearly all the money I saved back in Oklahoma on my move-in deposit. All I had left was money to get my transportation - bike and living expenses for the first week. 

I decided to make my first walk in my first neighborhood in NYC. 

- 'Sup, pretty!'

- 'Watcha doin' here, Snow White?'

I wasn't scared at all, as, first of all, I was mentally prepared for this, and, more than that, I consider myself pretty tough after living in Russia for 17 years. However, I still decided to keep my family back home away from knowing the whole picture of my current location in NYC.

Upper West Side sounds slight better than Upper Harlem, right? (Just saying, but apparently all the songs I sing tend to change my reality. Yep, you're thinking exactly what I've been thinking - 'DO THE HARLEM SHAKE')

My new roommates suggested me to just ignore everything by straight and confident walking. They looked very mature and experience in NY life to me, so I kept asking them about life here a lot.

18-year-old, all by myself, with 70$ in my pockets till I find job, I didn't know how I'm going to survive here, but somehow I knew I was going to be alright.

It’s time to press “Play”

My conversation with my adviser after she got the withdrawal form wasn't long at all. I really respected and loved her; she showed me the world of communication and showed me my place in it. She worked for us only; she wanted us to be great professionals in what we do.

- Linda, you’re really fast in your decisions. You need to think about this opportunity more, put all of the advantages and disadvantages on a scale…

- I know it’s only May and school starts in September. I understand I have money to pay rent only. I realize that I don’t know anybody there. But I also know that’s what I want to do, that’s where I want to be, and exactly when I want to leave.

- Do what your heart tells you to do, but please remember that you can always come back.

I loved and respected her more than most of the people I met in my life. But even she couldn't stop, because nothing could stop me.

I found some place online to stay at for the price I was able to pay. It was great to understand that I’m moving to New York, Manhattan.

Packing my staff I realized I’m a shopaholic, and I need to stop… Yeah, the United States changed me a lot by involving me pretty intensively in the pure consumer society. I mean, I never really refused to do that, but 4 pairs of jeans kind of surprised and scared me a little bit.

As my flight was at 6.15 AM my friends and I decided not to go bed. We've been talking for hours discussing our plans for the future, dreams and travelling ideas. It was great… At that moment I realized that probably it’s not that safe to live in Oklahoma where tornadoes are not that big of a deal, the landscape is pretty constant and food is all pretty much fried (dear reader, I’m giving you full rights to blame me for not liking fried food). But honestly, traveling around the world and specifically in the United States, I found out that Oklahomans are probably the greatest, the nicest, the kindest people you probably ever going to meet in the entire world.

They never refused to help me but refused to take money for gas, they listened to me if I needed to be listened. Moving up north I knew that communication between people is going to be in a very different way. However, I was ready to pay this price.

Standing in the airport customs’ lane, my friends stood next to me, and id didn't feel like I was leaving. I couldn't and I’m pretty sure my friends weren't able to understand that this is THE MOMENT.

I hugged them and smiled. “Bye guys! I love you so much. Thank you for everything!”

‘Cookies or pretzels, ma’am?’

‘Umm... cookies and orange juice please’ – I mumbled waking up.

I couldn't get back to sleep on this flight again because the only thing that was filling my mind was New York which was now just 2 hours and 45 minutes away of flying.

Finally after reading some random magazines, looking at duty-free catalog  listening to on-air radio and watching kind of a random movie about some old people in elderly house with tons of drama there, I heard the flight assistant announcing that we’re close to destination and it’s time to buckle up.

‘Don’t forget to turn off your electric devices,’ – the voice repeated a few times.

But no, I wasn't going to do that as I was about to fulfill one of my mini-dreams and make a check point in my buckle list. I opened my music gallery and found the folder “Favorite.”

I could both feel and see the plane getting lower every minute. It was the perfect moment and pressed “Play.”

Looking for the first time at the New York City from the bird’s point of view and hearing the first chords of Frank Sinatra’s unofficial hymn of the city, I could see us passing above Central park, Empire State Building, the Statue of Liberty and other iconic details of the city.

If I can make it here, I can make it anywhere.

It’s up to you, New York, New York

Living this moment I was realizing that I will always remember it as it is my official start of brand new life.