Sanya: Travel guide, prices and free housing · 2026

КСКамиль Сайдашевkamil89 · Oct 31, 2010Read

August 27, 2010 It's already the end of August. You can feel the chill. Autumn is coming soon. In 20 days I'll be home. That's good news – I've missed it. I spent the last week at home with Egor – it was cloudy and cool. We celebrated his 21st birthday on August 23rd, bought pizza and beer ($34). It was fun. Otherwise, everything is the same. Now I'm thinking that the weather won't be very hot and ice-cold-water won't be as profitable as it was on hot summer days. Although, in September there's Indian summer, the water is cold, but outside, in the air, it's very hot. I wonder if I'll have to dip into my savings? Sanya left for Miami – he decided not to save money and see the ocean – to relax. It's a bit expensive, but it seems his parents transferred him some money. I don't even know. I'm writing this in a Chinese takeout place, waiting for sweet&sour shrimp. My order is ready – gotta run and eat.

КСКамиль Сайдашевkamil89 · Oct 31, 2010Read

July 29, 2010 (9:50 AM) I'm lying in bed right now. I ended up catching tonsillitis after all. Last Friday, I picked up my SSC and headed home to the NorthEast. I felt unwell on the bus. By the next day, my throat was sore and I had a headache. Still, not wanting to 'burn' my business, I went out to sell water. It was extremely hot with heavy traffic—the result was 27 bottles in an hour—beautiful. Then I was sick for a week, gargling, resting, and taking anti-inflammatory pills—American ones (Lanina). It's a shame, because the week turned out to be really hot, 90-100°F. During this time, the guys found some work—Sanya and Andryukha served a Russian party on Sunday with Lanna and got $60 each. Then, Egor's job needed someone for roofing—Andryukha went, but came back because there was no work—they had promised $100. Yesterday he got $80 for siding. Sanya left for 3 days to move furniture in a hotel—moving. In short, there is work if you have the desire. I wanted to change my flight date to the end of August, but decided not to do it for now ($70 for the change with AirFrance). I want to stay here a bit longer, go somewhere, maybe to the ocean. Anyway, I feel much better today, so I think I'll start selling water again tomorrow) it's cool. At the end of August, I'm going to Atlantic City. In September, I'll go to New York for about 3 days before my flight. It's modest, but it makes me happy.

КСКамиль Сайдашевkamil89 · Oct 31, 2010Read

July 7, 2010 (9:00 PM) Hi! Haven't written in a while. Still haven't found a job. We're living in a hostel. I'm staying for free—sleeping without paying. If there are empty beds, I take one; if the whole hostel is full, I sleep on the couch in the game room. We mostly eat fast food. I've already eaten at many American diners (McDonald's, Wendy's, Wawa, Burger King, etc.). It's tasty everywhere, but a bit pricey at $5-7. In the morning, we eat cereal with milk. The milk comes in jugs—it doesn't taste like the Russian kind; it's not fatty. We have dinner at home. The fridge in the hostel is shared—sometimes we take someone else's food and drinks; it's cheap and fun. I went with Ilyukha to get an SSN. Leonid drove us (a guy who looks like a mobster, has been in the US for about 10 years). We met them at the hostel. At the SSN office, a guy approached us, claiming he works there but lost his SSN. He drove us to the place where his friend rents a room, and they have 2 rooms for rent for 400 bucks + deposit. We think it's a setup. They take a deposit here in case the tenant breaks something. But you can't check everything. At the end of the term, the landlord will definitely find a scratch and say they won't return the deposit. Apartments are expensive. Still no work. We go into restaurants, but nothing so far. The guys from Novosibirsk, Egor and Sanya, are working in roofing—cleaning up trash after those who do the roofs. It's hard because it's +40°C outside. 100 bucks a day is good compensation, but they are exhausted after the workday. Maybe we'll have to try that—they don't need extra workers yet. No options for now. Maybe we'll find something in another field. That's it. Otherwise, it's okay—we should get settled. #USA #WorkAndTravel

КСКамиль Сайдашевkamil89 · Oct 31, 2010Read

July 02, 2010 (19:43) Yes, it was a rough night. It was freezing, and it was so uncomfortable to lie down—I didn't sleep at all! By morning, Sanya rode his bike to a Chinese store and brought back cardboard boxes to keep warm—it helped a little. My box had "DO NOT FREEZE" written on it. I don't want to go through that again. I want a warm bed—my health is more important. Today, Ilyukha and I went downtown again to look for work. We filled out applications and asked everyone everywhere. In the evening, we met some Russians. One woman from Yaroslavl moved to the USA 20 years ago. She promised to help us with housing, work, and advice. I chatted with some French guys in the evening—it was fun. Tonight, I'll be sleeping in a bed.

AAlexsadus · Jul 31, 2010Read

July is coming to an end:( Still haven't found a new job, but I found another moving company where it's all Poles and Belarusians! I met Sedar there, he's from Turkmenistan, has been living in the USA for 2 years and is going back home soon (wife, kids). He managed to ship 2 cars back to his homeland!! Their duties aren't like ours! $1000 per car:) I agreed to go to the bank with him to help me open an account with a $50 bonus!!! And free maintenance!!! Oh... the USA does everything for the people... I also had the thought of getting my driver's license, it costs $10) I just need to find someone with a car to take the driving test in... Towards the end of the month, work picked up, which had a positive effect on my mood;) I worked the last few orders with African Americans (unfortunately, I forgot to take my camera those days), they are cool guys, in the photo is Stanley) He's:) a driver, and he sings great!!! It's cool to listen to him at the end of the workday while enjoying the view of the Chicago suburbs))) Also exchanged my bike without much trouble! They even took the rusted lock )))) got the money back $$$$ Bought a new one at Target - it's a hypermarket. Stole a good seat))) Recently, Sanya (my roommate, he's from Irkutsk) and I went to a china buffet - it's like a restaurant-cafe with a buffet!!! You pay $8 for entry and eat as much as you want!!! There's a lot of food there, all kinds of sushi, ice cream, cakes, and seafood, in short, we stuffed ourselves, Sanya even turned pale hahaha Today I'm going to see Cynic!!!!! Ps Slowly saving up $ for a new bass!!!

ЭКЭкономист, Кризис, США или Джамшут в Америкеguest_15638 · Sep 21, 2009Read

This page reflects the last week of my stay in the USA. I'm writing this without specific days because I spent half the time doing nothing and only did something for two days. Anyway, in short, for those reading the diary after 6 days or who didn't understand anything: I worked for 3 weeks and my boss owes me $1340. He doesn't intend to pay, but I don't want to give up, and I want everything to end with a happy end for me in this country. So, read on. I called the guys and asked how much he owed them; some answered, some didn't want to talk to me at all. I needed backup for when I talked to him. I called Sanya, he said the boss would be at the site tomorrow and wasn't going anywhere; he paid him to tell me that. I'm not mad at him, he needed the money and I'm just a student he's known for 2 months. I called some other guys and we decided to meet up and deal with him. Since my money was important to me—I'm not Moses and I'm not going to ask for salaries for 40-year-old men—I needed them for one interesting thing. I had the number of a lawyer who agreed to help me; if I called him, he would talk to the boss, which would mean a court summons and legal fees for him. But that was just in case. I also had the number of the agency that monitors illegal employment; it's a huge fine for an employer, and I know a bunch of illegals there and have proof they work for him. When I talked to him about the salary, I recorded the conversation on a voice recorder—at least some kind of evidence. Armed to the teeth, I went to meet him. I arrive, see his car, and the guys start showing up. Sanya and Tolyan joined us. The boss comes out, talking on the phone, and seeing me with the crowd, he hangs up with wide eyes. "Well, hello Sergey," I walk up to him. "How are things, how was the vacation? I see you came back early to pay the crew?" "Vanka, you're playing with fire, don't start trouble here, you pup." "Maybe it's you playing with fire? Sergey, you have 2 options right now: 1st, you give me the money right now, we walk to the bank together, you withdraw it from your account and pay me, $1340, or the other option, but I advise you to take the 1st." He looked at Sanya, whom he had paid—what happens between them is none of my business. "Haha, what other option? You're a nobody in this country and can't do anything, and I'm a legal resident, so get lost back to your homeland." "Well, I didn't want to do this," I take out my phone. "Look, I'm calling the agency that doesn't like it when illegal citizens work right now. Look at this crowd of illegals, Sergey. Next, I call the lawyer and summon you to court where you'll pay me my money + moral damages for the late-night conversation—I have the recordings, don't worry. You understand what kind of wave is coming for you." He went silent and made a face like he was about to smash my head in. "Fine, Vanka, let's go to the bank." "Uh, no, we are WALKING together to the bank, is that clear? I don't trust people like you." We walked 3 blocks, he withdrew the money and gave it to me, and as a parting shot, I said, "I hope when New York floods in 2012, you're the first to die," and I headed to the subway. Anyway, nothing interesting happened after that; I went home with the money, where I really like it. The End

КСКамиль Сайдашевkamil89 · Oct 31, 2010Read

August 27, 2010 It's already the end of August. You can feel the chill. Autumn is coming soon. In 20 days, I'll be home. That makes me happy – I've missed it. I spent the last week at home with Egor – it was cloudy and cool. We celebrated his 21st birthday on August 23rd, bought pizza and beer ($34). It was fun. Otherwise, everything is the same. Now I'm thinking that the weather won't be very hot and ice-cold-water won't be as profitable as it was during the hot summer days. Although, in September there's an Indian summer, the water is cold, but outside, in the open air, it's very hot. I wonder if I'll have to dip into my savings? Sanya left for Miami – he decided not to save money and see the ocean instead – to take a break. It's a bit expensive, but it seems his parents transferred him some money. I don't even know. I'm writing this in a Chinese takeout place, waiting for my sweet&sour shrimp. My order is ready – gotta run and eat.

AAlexsadus · Jul 31, 2010Read

July is coming to an end :( Still haven't found a new job, but I found another moving company where it's all Poles and Belarusians! I met Sedar there; he's from Turkmenistan, has been living in the USA for 2 years, and is heading home soon (wife, kids). He managed to ship 2 cars back to his homeland!! Their duties aren't like ours! $1000 per car :) I agreed to go to the bank with him to help me open an account with a $50 bonus!!! And free maintenance!!! Sigh... the USA really does everything for the people... I also had the thought of getting my driver's license, it costs $10 :) I just need to find someone with a car to take the driving test in... Towards the end of the month, work picked up, which had a positive effect on my mood ;) I worked the last few jobs with African Americans (unfortunately, I forgot to bring my camera those days), they are cool guys, in the photo is Stanley) He's a driver, and he sings great!!! It's cool to listen to him at the end of the workday while enjoying the view of the Chicago suburbs ))) Also exchanged my bike without much trouble! They even took the rusted lock )))) got my money back $$$$ Bought a new one at Target—it's a hypermarket. Stole a good seat for it ))) Recently, Sanya (my roommate, he's from Irkutsk) and I went to a China buffet—it's like a restaurant-cafe with an all-you-can-eat buffet!!! You pay $8 for entry and eat as much as you want!!! There's a lot of food there, all kinds of sushi, ice cream, cakes, seafood, in short, we stuffed ourselves, Sanya even turned pale hahaha Today I'm going to see Cynic!!!!! Ps Slowly saving up $ for a new bass!!!