Dear Mr. and Mrs. New Yorker,

I am writing to tell you thank you very much for your hospitality. You were so considerate in helping me make the best use of my time to see the city and learn more of American culture. It means a lot to me.

Since I moved to the city, you have shown me so many things which I could not dream about seeing in just a few months: tall buildings, the loud subway, world-famous museums, the ocean and nature. And people! So many people on every square foot of the city, from all over the world, from countries I never have been to yet but which I have just seen on the map.

In this city which never sleeps, every day I have a new lesson I should learn. I do not know if I am the best student, but I am trying. I feel that I have returned to school - maybe it is my school of life. I have done so many things which I had never done before: tried to find a big small apartment, had hours of conversation in English by phone about mistakes in my cellphone plan, learnt how to eat spicy food, separated my garbage for recycling, donated my clothes, learnt how to communicate with people from different cultures, learnt how to be a City Bike angel, volunteered in the hospital. And the most important - I was trying to find my own place in this New World. Do you think I have found it?

I feel like, for these months, I have had so many changes in myself, that I wonder sometimes, is it still me? Sometimes I feel that there is no more me, as that person who I knew just a year or two ago. It scares me. I miss some part of me, which I cannot find anymore. At the same time, I became more open to diversity in my life, to new people. These new sides of my personality grew up without my attention and I need to learn them – learn them in myself. I feel that I am waking up from a long sleep. And this is because of you.

It means so much to me that you have faith in my abilities to take on an active role in this city. You have taught me so much since I started living here – I look forward to continuing to do great work with you in my new role. I feel confident that I will do a good job, because you have been an excellent example for me.

I apologize that my letter becomes so personal, forgive me for that. But you really touched my heart and I wanted to share with you my emotions.

Thank you for believing in me!

My warmest regards,

Yuliia