And my adventure started. At 26th August a grabbed my laggage that was packed 2 days before and bravely said bye to my whole life in Macedonia, my neighbours, my city, my house, my friends and most important my family. Even though I "overnighted" in Hotel Orange INN, Skopje (Macedonia), I was sure that I left Macedonia the moment I said bye to my family. And at 27th August around 3 AM we (the YES students) went to the one and only macedonian airport - Alexander the great. We had "breakfast" while we were waiting on the airport, we checked our laggage and when they said that the flight to Belgrade, Serbia. We just waived to the American Council Skopje's office director - person that prepared us very well for our life in the USA even though later I realized that we own her a hug and rushed to the boarding gate. We got in the airplane which was just like a bus (JAT airlines is bad). After 1 hour we arrived in Belgrade. We had to wait 6 hours in Belgrade's airport (Nikola Tesla airport). After 6 hours of sleeping and wandering around the airport we got on the airplane to Munich. It was so different than the airplane to Belgrade. It was so much better organized, better looking and the staff working was so kind (Lufthensa airlines is awesome). So again after around 1 and half hours of flying we arrived. The Munich's airport was huge so we had to run to catch our flight to Washington, DC. We had a special treatment at the airport like VIP. So we got on the airplane (Lufthensa airlines) and we were flying for like 9 hours. During all the flights I couldnt get my eyes off the window. Luckily at all 3 flights I had window seat! I took so much pictures of the sky. It was just wonderful. The airplane to DC was so comfortable, it had huge seats that had screens on them so you can just watch movies, listen to music or even watch LIVE tv. And after 9 hours (27th August local time) we arrived at Washington Dulles Airport - a very nice organized airport. We went through costums and imigration and at the other way of the side YES staff members were waiting for us. We rushed to get Wi-Fi access and just to tell our families that we arrived in USA safely and also to check us in at Facebook :D xD . I would specialy like to say thanks to our flight leader who leaded us through the whole trip. And the following 3 days we've spent in the National 4H Conference centar. It was so beautiful dorm-based building with 50 conference rooms and each of them had name as some USA's state. During the staying there we went through the same orientation we had in Maceodonia. That period of time I realized that the American Councils staff back in our home country prepaired so well, we were the only ones that knew everything! At this DCO (DC Orientation) there were more that 150 students all ower the world so we were divided at color groups - each group had like 15 students. I must say that I was lucky to get in the best group (Yellow Group) whos teachers were Tom (our head teacher) and Justin (a YES alumni). With him we did a lot of plus activities that the other groups didnt do such as walking through the neighbourhoods, visiting shops and stores to check the prices and learning how to make a peanut and jelly sandwich. Another cool thing was that we went "sightseeing". We went to the USA's National Museum that had all the USA's history in one building. We went to the White House etc etc... The day of the sightseeing was a perfect time to be in Washington, DC, the anniversary of the famouse peace walk. Even tho it was soooo hot in DC, the 3 days staying in there paid off. I have to mention again how the American Councils staff is so proffesional and organized. They managed to get over 150 students to different airplanes - different gates. So I got on the plane to Boston. I didnt have window seat this time so as soon as I got on my seat I fell asleep. Just before landing I woke up. Boston's airport is very beautiful and organized. I got my laggage and my coordinator Sandy picked me up. We went to Five Guys - a very nice fast food restoraunt and went through a fast orientation (3d one I already had). And then finally we got on the road to Chelmsford.
Even though I didnt mention it before, I was saving it for the end. The funny and strange feeling I had a week ago transfered to a huge excitement feeling that was caused by the knowledge that for a small amount of time I will be meeting the people, the place and community where I will spend one AWESOME and EXCITING year of my life - Chelmsford, Massachusetts.
(Full 1st (The trip to the U.S.A.) picture album - Click Here)
(Full 2nd (The orientation in Washington, DC) picture album - Click Here)
