Quest 2. The Job Offer.
We need a job offer—go to yellowpages.com or something similar (it doesn't really matter) and write to a bunch of people from a pre-created gmail.com account. It's been tested: klevyj_Pacan_Iwet_Rabotu@gmail.com gets replies about 4 times less often than Alexej.Fedorov@gmail.com. Although the first one is definitely more soulful, right? For America, we mainly use Gmail (unless you want to scam someone and stay unnoticed, of course=)). Emails from Mail.ru or Rambler, as well as emails sent to them, often don't reach the US, apparently because the system considers the content meaningless.))
Also, if you haven't found anything by April (at least for South Carolina), start calling around using Skype or a calling card. (Skype is better—3 dollars for an unlimited monthly plan, about 80 rubles, and you can use it in America by putting 500 rubles on your account in May. It will come in very handy one day.) Maybe something will turn up. Plus, check with all your friends and acquaintances for cool jobs and cool places to live. (By the way, this is the most reliable and effective method)).
If nothing works out, buy an offer—what else can you do? This year, some good friends of mine who bought from an agency couldn't get an offer for 4 months. They kept pushing back their departure date, etc. You have to understand that the guys at the agency are people too, and if there's no work, there's no work for them either. Although they have more channels than mere mortals.)) So, if you want to be sure everything is tip-top, get it either from a major agency when they are absolutely certain about where and how much, or from people who sell them themselves. In any case, expect that something might go wrong. Agency offers are more reliable, but there might be a delay; private offers might be fake, even if everything is done quickly.
Our offer was fake, bought from an acquaintance, so we went wherever our eyes looked, and they were looking at Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.)))
By the way, why there? Honestly, I don't think it's the coolest place to make money unless you have a job in a restaurant or somewhere else (the main thing is tips), but there is always work, at least one job. I know a bunch of places that were much worse. However, nothing is true in this world. If you found a cool job—that's cool! If not, and you're worried, then Myrtle Beach (where we were) is a very decent option. It's one of the cheapest US states for housing and food (and what else do you need for happiness?), plus it's a resort area, the sea, even if it's not the bluest. Although, I repeat, I know people who worked for $6.50, and there are quite a few of them. The average is $7.60–$8.00. Considering tax deductions, you're left with about $6.20. I worked most of the summer at such a job. The last 2 weeks I was making $40–$50 an hour for 6–7 hours. That's on tips. If there are tips, everything is fine.
Therefore, it's hard to say anything for sure; luck and being in the right place at the right time matter a thousand times more for how you spend your summer than your language level or intelligence. But you can catch a trend.) Although the city is provincial, like our Sochi. (Interpret this comparison however you want.)) This year, the second-year students say it was much harder. Out of 5 of my acquaintances who were in Myrtle for the second time, 4 earned about half as much as last year. Sales volume in the city's main shopping centers fell by about 35–40% (official local data).
Look for a reliable place (it doesn't have to be the coast or anything), but don't rely on claims from guys on the internet about thousands of easy dollars in some places. Many people came to Myrtle after failing in other cities because they went there without thinking. For most of them, the summer and their plans for the fall were seriously ruined, which I sincerely do not wish for you.
