I had this dream.

I was 23 and I had this dream that I would live and study for a few months in New York City. I had never been out of the country before, didn’t even own a passport, no money, but somehow I knew, I had to be there.

I had been working with the LOA for a while and was confident about it. I decided September the 3rd would be a nice date for departure, considering weather and some time for all the paperwork.

I was working at a restaurant at that time. A job I really hated, because of the people I was working with. But everyday I would have a notepad in the desk where I took reservations, and I would write September the 3rd NYC. And felt the joy and somehow stayed in a good mood all through my working day.

It was July, I couldn’t stand the job nor my boss one more day and decided I would quit the following day.

Before I was about to leave, my boss calls me and says: I am sorry, but we have to let you go, we need someone who has more available hours than you do. It was our mistake and we will pay you everything we owe, plus vacations, unemployment and a bonus. I understand if you don’t want to come tomorrow, we will pay you for the whole month anyway.

Not only did I not have to work another day, but I received the money I needed for tickets, tuition and living in NYC for six months.

I do not always believe in everything I want, and that’s when I remind myself how strongly I knew I would be in NYC on September the 3rd, and smile. Because, there I was.