The land where the soul rushes

I promised to tell you about America. And it's not that simple. There are no words to describe this country. This is not the first time I've tried to write this article, but I can't finish it. I've written several thousand words, I can't see the end yet, and the written text looks too bad... This time I decided: I won't share a story, I'll share a feeling. Why do I love a foreign country so much? I believe that each of us has our own place under the sun. And even if all the patriots in the world were to rise up right now, I wouldn't be afraid to say that my love for America is much stronger than for Lithuania. I'm not saying that everything is ideal there. Sometimes I sincerely want to ask where the brains of those citizens are when they elect a president and where the humanity and logic of the government are when they create some laws. But even these gaps disappear in the feeling that the American land gives. In Lithuania, no matter how unfortunate it is, no one has filled those gaps for me. Although I would really like to. Therefore, even though I am in my homeland, my heart is across the Atlantic. And I live every time from one ticket purchase to the next.

I recently bought tickets again. I cried with happiness after spending such a sum of money. Because it's not all about the amount you have to pay for a ticket, but about the feelings when you realize that it's good to return to a place where it's good to be. Where even the biggest problems become less terrible. My soul dances, and happiness surges over the edges every time I return there. And until this summer, it didn't matter at all whether it was New York, Cleveland, Reno, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami... Today I know that I have a place where I will always want to return. This is Miramar Beach. A small resort town where even buses don't run. What is so important about it? On July 10, it was there that I met a group of people who changed my life. As soon as my plane landed in that city, my eyes filled with happiness. The next day I had to meet with the bosses of my future job. You won't believe it, but it was like a fairy tale. They are kind, cheerful, and treat you like real friends, even though they are much superior people. Everything went great, I didn't even dare to think that it could be even better...

I don't know how to describe that feeling when you find inner peace at work. When your coworkers become good friends, when relationships move beyond the office. And someone comes not only to your circle of friends, but also to your loved ones. Someone becomes the one and only. I could write about that place endlessly. I could tell you how you learn to enjoy the water that turns on to water the lawn, when you ride your bike home after a long day and get soaked, when you wake up outside the window and see such a storm that you can't open the door, and you have to be at work in half an hour. Being in America, I learned to enjoy even such things.

I don't understand why people in Lithuania see everything only in dark colors. Why are we so angry, unhappy, dissatisfied with everything, incomprehensible, ready to condemn others? I wish everyone to go to that magical place, meet no less good people than I was lucky enough to meet, and feel the difference.

True, this summer was not the first time I visited this country. It was my third visit, only radically different from the previous ones and I had different expectations for it. This time I came here to work and see the hard life. I came alone, I had nothing. Before that, in this country I vacationed with people I knew and loved, spent money and enjoyed life. Just like in a movie. But not this time. This was supposed to be my experience, which people tell about, saying that in America it is good only if you work hard. And I will tell you not a damn thing! Just don't be lazy, find a job that you would love to do and you will feel what I experienced.

First of all, I fell in love with the United States because of the idea. The idea that you can realize yourself there, that there are opportunities there that are not there here. Then I went to see what this country looks like not in the movies, but in reality. I lived in Mentor, near Cleveland, Ohio. I know what you associate this city with. And that is definitely not what I found. Here I understood what Christmas really is, what real Christmas fever is and what the atmosphere should be like during this period. Gifts are not the most important thing. Music is playing in the streets, lights are shining everywhere, people walk happily and congratulate each other. No one sits down at the table to eat, there are just a few snacks. Everyone gathers to chat and be together. I would like to let you go back in my memories and see what an American Christmas Eve looks like.

That's how I fell in love with America at Christmas. When I celebrated these holidays in Lithuania for the last two years, I tried with all my heart to create and feel that emotion. I couldn't... Everything is so artificial, fake, and people are unhappy, complaining about lack of money, lack of ideas for gifts, everyone is running and not having time to go anywhere. That's not how the holidays look. I'm glad that I will celebrate the winter holidays again on the other side of the Atlantic, and again in that euphoria... I will try to share with you the emotions and images of that evening.

Why am I coming back this time and why am I leaving my family during such holidays? It sounds cruel, but my home is not here. My heart does not belong here. When you find your favorite place, you will understand me. My loved one and a group of friends are waiting for me there. I stopped writing for a moment, closed my eyes and just smiled. It is indescribably good. I know I will jump with happiness when I see them all.

It's a shame I've never celebrated Thanksgiving or Halloween in America. These are American holidays and Europe will never create the kind of emotion they do. It's so strong that even speaking Skype on the eve of those holidays, my house was filled with the warmest feelings. Perhaps today I am finally writing this article, because today is Thanksgiving and today I spoke with the people dearest to me who live in America. It is extraordinary... I wish everyone knew how to celebrate holidays the way the inhabitants of that country do.

And what was so magical that happened during the summer? Probably the fact that I met those people, learned to enjoy even the little things, and realized that I had to revive my dream. I let it go unnecessarily. After the summer, I am sure that I belong to that country. My soul yearns there, there I find peace with myself, with life, there I find people I can trust, whom I love and who love me. There are people who are waiting for me and sincerely did not want to let me go, even when they knew that I would return. They did not want to do this because they saw how good I was here, they knew how much I would miss them and how much they would miss me. But they also knew that they had to let me go…

I went on a trip with my friends. From Florida, I spread my wings to Nevada. Then California, Arizona… I have traveled a lot of this country, so I can confidently talk about the United States, because it is not just getting to know one side. It is magical both in summer and winter. The hospitality of people, their goodwill… Even the living system, where prices are not twice as high as salaries. That is why it is good in that country. Because if you are not lazy, the stars themselves will come to you. And those around you, instead of throwing stones, will be with you in every difficult moment.

I don't know how much feeling I managed to convey to you, but I know that each of you will find your place and I really hope that you will feel no less happy there than I did in America. I know that happiness shouldn't depend on where you are, but it's not good for a person to be without a home, right? That's how I feel without that country and everything I have in it.

Refrain from donuts, save money and travel the world. Get to know its beauty and goodness, stumble upon that dreamland. Feel, see and understand. Find your place, wherever it may be. Live and pursue your dreams. Maybe my America is Lithuania for you. Or any other country. Discover it and realize yourself. Live here and now, live where your heart belongs. Kisses, my dear!

Author: Simona Naujokaitytė