Washington DC – The Lord’s Gift for My 24th Birthday – Part III
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After an unforgettable time in Washington, D.C., filled with exploring the city, meeting old friends, and connecting with coworkers, it’s finally time to head back to Bulgaria. But just when I think everything is over, I face one more challenge, which, thankfully, God helps me navigate.
In the main Hotel Hall where the Competition is held.
The journey home begins
The journey back begins with a bus ride to the airport, organized by Topcoder. On the way, I find myself sitting next to one of the best algorithm programmers in the world—a nice guy from Russia. He falls asleep on my shoulder during the ride, which makes for a funny situation.
At the airport, I need to catch a flight to Frankfurt, but I’m lost. I can’t find my gate and begin to feel anxious. Just when I’m starting to panic, a kind coworker from Topcoder approaches me – a Romanian software engineer. Strangely, I don’t know him, but he knows me. We’re on the same flight, and he helps me find my way. I feel relieved when I finally make it to my gate for the flight to Frankfurt.
A New Obstacle
When I arrive in Frankfurt, I think everything is smooth sailing. I find the gate for my flight to Sofia and relax, thinking that the worst is over. But just 30 minutes before the flight, I realize I’m at the wrong gate. I have no idea how to get to the correct one, and I begin to feel stressed. If I can’t find it in time, I might miss the flight or have to pay extra for another one. The thought of not having enough money makes me even more worried.
In that moment, I pray to God for help. I start running through the airport, hearing some people laugh at me. Despite the odds, I manage to find the right gate and catch the plane just in time. The plane is delayed by about half an hour, so I would have caught it even if I were 30 minutes late. I even manage to sleep a little during the flight, because I am all alone in the three seats.
The moments I experienced God’s help during my journey
My adventure to Washington, D.C., and back is impossible without God’s help. If it weren’t for Him, I would probably get lost along the way :). Here are all the situations in which I experience God’s help.
1. Making the humorous video that wins me the trip.
2. Going to the U.S. Embassy in Sofia—the capital is large, and it is hard for me to navigate properly. I also sleep in the apartment of a fellow programmer to save money on a hotel.
3. Having a relative in Sofia who tells me to exchange $100, which I later need for a shuttle bus in Washington. He also drives me to the airport and gives me instructions on how to find my gate.
4. Speaking to a Christian American sitting next to me on the plane—my fear of going to an unknown place 8,000 km from home goes away.
5. Calling from the phone of a kind American girl working at the airport to the person at the Bulgarian Embassy in Washington whom I know from a Christian camp I attend—he tells me to find a shuttle bus to the hotel.
6. Paying for the shuttle bus with the money I exchanged in Sofia.
7. Seeing my good childhood friend Nikolay, who moved to the USA 10 years ago. He lives two hours away by train, and we have a meeting at the hotel.
With Nikolay at the White House.
8. Seeing all my coworkers from Topcoder, who are from all over the world, especially the graphic designer whose work I admire most.
With the Graphic Designer I Admired the Most for His Work.
9. Exploring Washington’s best places with the map the organizers gave me.
A View of the Washington Monument From the Lincoln Memorial.
10. The stressful encounter with the security guard when I forgot the card for my hotel room.
11. Going to the Bulgarian Embassy and speaking with the Trade Attaché Ivo, whom I know from a Christian camp in Bulgaria.
12. Remembering my PIN on the third try when withdrawing money, so my card isn’t blocked.
13. Sitting on the bus next to a fellow Russian programmer whose work I admire.
14. A fellow Romanian programmer sees that I am nervous at the airport in Washington and approaches me to help me find our plane.
15. After mistakenly going to the wrong gate for Sofia at Frankfurt Airport, I manage to run through almost the whole airport in 30 minutes to find my gate to Sofia.
Arrival in Sofia and the Joy of Returning Home
I land at Sofia Airport, feeling grateful and relieved. A driver approaches me and asks if I need a ride to the bus station. I happily accept, knowing that I can catch a bus to Kazanlak, my hometown.
When I catch the bus from Sofia to my hometown of Kazanlak, I feel very calm. I am so happy and amazed that I made it to Washington, D.C., and back.
When I finally see my hometown, I feel an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude. After my five-day adventure across the world, I’m back home, safe and sound!
I head for my apartment. When I see it, I say to myself, “Oh, home sweet home”. I still can’t really realize how I have gone on such a long trip, and I thank God that everything worked out fine.
A Map of how Far I have Travelled.
Looking back, I can’t help but reflect on my journey. I’m a poor guy from a small town in the poorest country in Europe. When I was 13, I traveled to Vidin, a town in Bulgaria, with my grandmother. It took more than 6 hours by train, and at the time, I thought that would be the farthest I would ever go.
But with God’s guidance, everything changed. I didn’t know how to travel by plane or navigate a foreign country, but with God’s help, I experienced an adventure I will never forget.