​The semester is coming to an end.  Half of my stay in Boston will be over soon.  It’s time to look back and think of the experience I’ve had here.
 
I have to say that one’s life in America is an incredible memory that you will warmly think of for the rest of your life.  It is really different from any other country in the world.  Starting with the little things like Fahrenheit, gallons and miles, and ending up with bigger things, such as traditions, values, and mentality.  America is very open and friendly to anyone who is seeking something - whether it’s a better life, or simply just fun, it’s all here.  I must admit, I will never regret that I chose Boston for my graduate program.  I had a lot of fun, learned a lot of new things, and it seems like I will return home being a different person.  One who is more open, culturally friendly, and inspired by life’s diversity.
 
Boston is full of places to visit and explore.  You can hardly ever be bored here.  I think it can satisfy every taste:  for party animals, there is a big variety of bars and clubs; for lovers of culture there are museums, exhibitions, the Boston Symphony, and libraries; for architects, different buildings from different times; for food lovers, any cuisine is possible to be found.
 
When trying to find a job or internship here, Boston University offers a lot of opportunities, such as a big variety of career events, meetings, and conferences.  You can also get individual professional help regarding your CV or cover letter.  Boston University is a good school and it definitely will be an advantage on your CV, not only in the United States, but everywhere in the world.  American companies seem to be open to international students, as they offer a lot of job and internship positions, as well as training and summer programs.  So if you are interested – you are good to go.
 
Overall, I can say that I will definitely recommend Boston University to anyone who will have a chance to study here.  I promise, you will never regret it.

The exams are over, second semester is yet to come, and vacation has officially begun!
 
I’ve made a lot of plans for a quick, but big tour around the United States.  It includes New York, Washington D.C., Los Angeles, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, and Miami.
 
So, the first Sunday after my exam week, I’m sitting in the airport, waiting for my flight to the legendary “city that never sleeps”:  New York.  I know some people really love it, and some really hate it.  I’m excited about my feelings and emotions, but I’m sure that I will not leave New York being indifferent.  My plane lands at La Guardia International Airport, and the adventure begins!  The skyline is incredible!  As for me, New York in the sunshine looks like a holy sphere above the water:  tall buildings covered with glass catch the sun and reflect it with hundreds of different colors!  I cannot believe that once it was just an island – Manna-hata, inhabited by Native Americans, and covered with impassable forest.  If only those early inhabitants knew how it would look like in hundreds of years!  It all began when Manna-hata was bought by the Netherlands for some glass and a fake piece of jewelry.  Since then it has been ruled by the Netherlands and the British, experienced fires, wars, and epidemics of the Black Death, and now, it’s finally called the financial center of the world, or the Big Apple.  This is true:  you can love or hate New York, but it can never leave you indifferent.

My next stop was the heart of the United States – Washington D.C.  Before I planned my trip, many people told me not to waste my time on it.  So far, it’s turned out to be my absolute favorite among all other cities.  Firstly, because it is very green!  I think there is no other capitol city that is as green as Washington!  Monumental historical buildings, a large number of universities and libraries, political offices and embassies – all this made Washington so unique and different.  I was lucky enough to have a tour guide:  with her help I’ve visited the old archives (sadly, not the secret ones) of the Library of Congress and managed to listen to one of the sessions of the Congress.  My trip to Washington played a significant role in my perception of Americans as a nation:  I really respect the postulates and principles this country was built upon.  The absolute freedom of speech and opinions, equality between all the races and nationalities, dignity, and honesty.  These are rare qualities today, and I felt blessed knowing that there is a country on this planet for which all that is not just beautiful words.

​However, both in New York and Washington I was unlucky with the weather – it was rainy and windy.  So a warm Los Angeles was a heaven on earth:  warm, shiny, and huge!  I’ve never thought that this city could be so big!  However, in comparison to New York City, the skyline is not so high.  Los Angeles was very entertaining:  I visited the Walk of Fame, where I found the hand and footprints of my idol Marilyn Monroe, went to Universal Studios Theme Park and had fun at the new Harry Potter World, and of course enjoyed the famous beaches of Santa Monica.  Overall, these were very relaxing days full of fun.

​Wait… I’m sorry, that’s not true.  Nothing insulting to Los Angeles, but Las Vegas was not called a Sin City for its skyline.  So don’t even try to compare the fun you get there to any other type of fun.  Ever.  Everything that you can possibly imagine, all kinds of entertainment that your heart could desire – it all can be easily found in Las Vegas.  During the day it looks like a pretty normal rich city, but during the night it starts its real life.  All kind of parties, casinos, shows - tones of lights, colors, decorations - all that makes Vegas an unforgettable experience!  I cannot say that it was my only sleepless night during my life, but it definitely was the most memorable one.  Thankfully, I’m more than 21, so I had a chance to enjoy the roulette, different types of poker, slot machines, and go to a party of one of my most favorite DJ’s: Avicii.  He had a beach party concert out there.

​During my stay in Vegas, I also managed to visit the Grand Canyon.  At 11 am, the shuttle picked me up at my hotel and took me to a helicopter station.  From there, myself and some other people flew to the Grand Canyon.  Honestly, there is not much to say about it, because this is the kind of place that you simply have to see on your own eyes.  Hopefully my pictures will motivate you…

​The last stop on my list was Miami.  Huge and relaxing, it sounds like Latino music, smells like expensive perfume, and looks like the American Dream.  Very warm, full of sunshine and friendly people, it was the best possible destination to finish my trip!  There is nothing much to say:  after so many flights I really needed some rest, sleeping, and maybe few Miami cocktails :)

​To conclude, I have to say that America is an incredible country with lots of interesting and unique places to visit, and it’s really very different.  There is no bigger mistake for every foreigner who comes Stateside than to go to only one or two cities and think that one’s seen America.  Travel, experience, and draw your own conclusions!  Have a safe trip!

​Traveling is always a good idea.  Of course, it is pretty hard to combine studying (especially if you are interested in getting good grades) and traveling around the United States (as it is enormously big), but you can start with some places close by.
 
One of my first adventures was to Cape Cod.  I must add that it was a bold idea to go there in the cold month of February, but once I had a free weekend and not much to do for my studies, I took my chance.  Cape Cod is a very beautiful coastal line, an hour drive away from Boston.  I went there with my two roommates.  We rented a car, bought some small snacks, and hit the road.  On the way, we managed to stop by in a small village close to Provincetown for some lobster rolls.  Honestly, they were amazing.  There is no sauce in the filling, or any special ingredient, it was just bread with some lobster meat inside.  But it was really good!
 
Provincetown itself is a very small, but very culturally exciting town.  It reminded me of the America we all see in the movies: small wooden houses, typical suburbs, beaches, small shops, and coffee shops.  And a huge, majestic ocean.  Just take a look at those pics!

​The best tip of what to do in America when you’re studying abroad is to do something you have never done before.  This is really easy here, because America is a very special country. For example, how many times in your life did you watch a Super Bowl or the Oscar Ceremony Live?  Or what about American football or baseball?  You get my point.
 
The coolest thing about Boston University MET International is that it hosts activities for their international students…like…giving tickets to different events with a huge discount or even for free!  Just recently, I attended a Boston Red Sox Boston game.
 
Once we had the tickets and were there at the crowded Fenway Park, I thought it might be time for me to ask about the rules of the game.  You know, I’m not a big sports fan when it comes to watching games (I would rather play), but I wanted this experience.   I mean, American stadiums are something absolutely worth attending.  TD Garden and Fenway Park are both incredibly big, with huge screens and a lot of snack bars.  Inside, there are thousands of people walking, shouting, dancing, and of course, eating.  I have a feeling that this is a very special part of attending an event like this.  Watching the game with a huge hamburger or hot dog and a can of Coke.
 
This game was over, and the Red Sox won, yay!  What will your experience be?

​We all know that we shouldn’t judge other people, however, we all still do it.  Every nation has stereotypes and clichés.  In this article I would like to break down some of the most common stereotypes about Americans.
 
“Americans are unhealthy.”
Well, it’s partly true.  There are a lot of fast food restaurants around, and many frozen foods in the supermarkets.  However, you can find everything you’ve ever wanted here. Every supermarket offers a lot of organic products, and a big variety of fruits and vegetables. Moreover, there are places like Trader Joe’s, which offers inexpensive health foods.  As I discovered, Americans especially love peanut butter, quinoa, and guacamole.  Ironically, some of those foods aren’t even American, but I am pretty sure Americans are the ones who eat them the most.
 
Also don’t forget about the sports.  If you walk inside any fitness studio here in Boston, you will understand what I mean.  It’s full of people at any time, even during the day and night. Sometimes people even go to the gym twice or three times a day.  People also love running here, especially since Boston hosts the famous, Boston Marathon.  And don’t forget about typical American games like American football or baseball. Hockey is a big deal here, too.
 
“America is one country.”
I think many people from Europe and Asia, who have never been to America, perceive it as one huge country that’s the same everywhere you visit.  However, the surprising fact for every foreigner is that every state is very different.  Massachusetts is very different from California, for instance, from the weather to the food and even the mentality of people. Boston, however, can be described as a conservative, and maybe very European area.  The city of Boston is a very nice combination of different architecture styles, with lots of cultural diversity.  
 
“It’s all about the American dream.”
Of course, everybody is aware of the term, “American Dream.”  And yes, indeed, it’s easier to achieve it here.  However, I must say that, in reality, it is actually a very hard-working process.  And no, not everyone in America is rich.  The life is pretty normal here.  There is a big gap between the rich and the poor, there are different cars, and pretty old houses.
 
“Americans barely travel.”
Not true at all.  Well, maybe they do not travel around Europe so much, however, how many of you visited every single country in Latin America, for example?  Or explored all fifty United States?  Yes, travelling within one’s own country doesn’t count, you can say.  But as I mentioned before, America is very different from state to state.  Also, many of them prefer further destinations than Europe, such as Australia, New Zealand, or Malaysia.
 
“Americans only speak English.”
Hey, do you know that Spanish is the second official language here?  Yes, as English is the number one international language, many people don’t see the need to learn more languages.  However, in America I have managed to meet people who spoke several languages very fluent.
 
“Americans are ignorant to the rest of the world.”
Fahrenheit, miles, gallons, inches…yes, the metric system definitely creates some uncomfortable moments for Americans who travel around the world.  But on the other hand, how many of you are familiar with this system?  
…that’s what I thought!  Perhaps we should stop calling it ignorance.
 
As you can see, it’s always better to draw your own conclusions, instead of relying on stereotypes.  And remember, there is no good or no bad, there is only different.
 

I must admit that from the very first moment I walked around the Boston downtown area, I had the feeling my life in America would be totally different from the one I used to have back in Europe.   And it’s not only about the different metric system, the big trucks, and skyscrapers.  The approach to and speed of life is something really special here.  The scent of availability to get everything you can ever think of is in the air.  People seem to be way more open and communicative than people in Europe.
 
However, my biggest impression was once I arrived to Commonwealth Avenue – the avenue that hosts to Boston University - to organize everything before classes began.  Thirty-five campuses, a huge fitness and recreation center where you can find every sport you can possibly imagine, a medical center, lots of different cafes and restaurants, a libraries with so many books that you will need your whole life to read them all.  They even have their own Barnes & Noble bookstore, where you can find pretty much everything: books, clothes, stationery, mugs etc. – and all with the BU logo.  For me, who came here from a three-floor school building with only one café and supermarket across the street, it all looked just amazing.
 
Of course, Boston University is not only about all those amazing things they offer.  It’s an educational institution first off, so let’s keep it serious from this point on.  The educational system here is way different from the one you get used to in Europe.  Lectures cover just around 20% of what you will actually see in the exam.  But it’s not that bad as the books, case studies, and manuals you are provided with are more than enough to get you well-prepared.  During the lectures you watch a lot of videos and tutorials, and mostly the classes here are practical-skills oriented, which I personally find very good for a graduate student.
 
So I have to say that if you choose BU for your exchange semester or degree, I don’t think you will ever regret it.

Okay, before I start let me tell you just one thing about me: I am an absolute food freak.  I love cooking, experimenting, and trying different cuisine.  So, obviously, American food was something I was really concerned about.  Actually my anxiety increased because the food is so different here!  I had to visit three different supermarkets just to find a simple Activia yogurt!  And still – it was low fat!  Yeah, this is the first thing to know: every product in America is low fat.  However, for those who are trying to get fat, there are plenty of snacks, chips, drinks, and dips.
 
Boston is famous for its seafood, lobsters, and oysters.  The best place to go for it is the market.  Here you can try it for a very reasonable price and a good quality.  One of the must-try items is a lobster-roll.  In comparison with the size of American portions overall, lobster rolls are quite small, but very filling.

​Autumn 2015 found me in a very good mood, because I had just received  confirmation from Boston University Metropolitan College.  This meant that the next year I was going to start studying in the United States of America: so far away, so unexplored.  Moreover, a new country always feels like a new life.  Being absolutely fascinated by the idea of moving abroad, I started my preparations: visa, housing, packing…then I was all set.  So, let the story begin!
 
In January 2016, somewhere above the Atlantic Ocean, a little girl was starting to get nervous. The plane destination map was showing the increasing distance from the life she was so used to: her family and friends, Europe with all its cultural diversity and history, her food and life habits. What should she expect now? I had never been to the United States before. And though this country is covered by plenty of stories, which make it glitter like the stars on its flag, I felt extremely insecure the last couple of hours before landing.
 
America met me with the bright lights of the skyscrapers, just like in the movie: imagine the view of tall shiny buildings from above, add some nice pop song, cover it all with a breath-taking moment of starting something completely new and you pretty much get my feelings at that moment.  Moreover, imagine my confusion when after half a year of living in Germany and hearing German “Achtung Sie, bitte!” you hear, “Attention, please!” with a beautiful accent.  It’s like a blast! That was the moment when I realized that I definitely put myself out of my comfort zone and dived into something completely new.
 
One hour and seventy dollars later (0_0) my taxi stopped in front of a tall building with many flags on top of the fence roof. “Hey, how are you doing? Welcome to Boston!” – a concierge of the InterContinental Hotel smiled so friendly, that I involuntarily caught myself thinking that a big distance might not be THAT big of an issue.  But that thought disappeared immediately when I finally found myself in the room without any phone connection, standing in front of the air conditioning. Guys, it’s Fahrenheit! Now, that’s a challenge! …which I completely failed by setting the air conditioning to 93 degrees… Not surprisingly, the first night in my new home I spent trying to figure out with my sleepy mind of how not to get boiled.
 
Next few days felt as if I was lost in the fog: the amount of glass and stones around seemed as reaching the sky, huge trucks beeping impatiently to slow pedestrians, people wearing warm coats and flip flops running somewhere, the smell of ocean and weed reaches your nose everywhere you go, the weather changes so rapidly that the combination of a coat and flip flops seems like a perfect idea after a while. Yes, Boston does look different from any place you might have seen before! And this place definitely has a unique face. And although my first impressions left me in a state of confusion, I felt really happy to be here.  Seemed like a pretty cool challenge. So, welcome to a new home, little girl!