Hi all,

I'm a 23 year old from the U.K. who's currently considering moving abroad this November for a year - rent here is too expensive and my job is frankly hateful. I've always loved Mississippi, or the idea of it at least, and I wondered if it might serve as a good place for me to work in for a bit. I figured I'd come here for advice/comment as to whether this is a good or bonkers idea. Particularly I'd like some advice on the following:

1. Will I be able to find work? I have a bachelor's degree from a decent university, and a fair bit of work experience. I'm not looking for a permanent career path or anything, just something good enough to cover rent and allow me to save up some cash. I currently work in recruitment and I intend to never do that again, but I'm otherwise breezy.
2. Where would you recommend I settle? I'm from Birmingham and currently live in London, so I've already accepted wherever I plant myself it's gonna be a much smaller town feel, but I'd like a settlement a little on the larger side. I hear Oxford is a lovely place, but I'd appreciate some insight.
3. I currently cannot drive, and I know that in America outside of like New York that's not going to work - how hard is it to get my hands on a license and buy a car? Is insurance expensive for new drivers?
4. (More to assuage my mother's worries) I'm a mixed-race guy, and Mississippi obviously doesn't have the best history on race relations. Would I be at any particular risk or difficulty with my race? Especially being not fully black or white.

Any advice you guys could offer would be massively appreciated! And hey, if I do end up moving over, I'd be more than happy to grab a beer or two when I arrive:)

Edit: Truly overwhelmed by the amount of responses. Thanks so much for all the advice, especially about the coast - I hadn't even thought of that as an option! It's also good to know there are a fair amount of jobs too, though I do need to do research on how to get the right visa. But all the advice has definitely got me seriously thinking about it, so thanks!