Cost of living. It was something like $10 in CO but everything up there is incredibly expensive. Like $5 a gallon of milk and a thousand dollar a month rent for assisted or "low income" apartments where I was at.

lolwut

I highly doubt they're "playing games".
Its very unlikely a company would string you along for weeks for a minimum wage job. For the most part people are working minimum wage jobs out of necessity not out of desire to work for the place.
Definitely follow up though, you seem to have a good attitude. Don't be too proud to start from the bottom.. everyone does

goodluck man