

In addition, don’t say anything that suggests you will work, even if unpaid. Don’t mention volunteering, helping a friend, doing remote work, etc. The rules are quite specific about what visas allow and do not allow, and many border people are just there to catch a paycheck - they will absolutely err on the side of denial. It is not a fair game, and you will not be given a fair chance to explain yourself.
Highly recommend hiking, or at least going for a scenic drive. I have been heading over to local trails a few times a week and it’s amazing how much my brain has rewired from it. Like, I know the shit is bad, that hasn’t changed, but seeing nature in force reinstalls this feeling of control. Nature always wins, these people will all be worm food one day.