The Trip I Will Never Forget

Miles upon miles high in the air my mindraces to think about what might happen and what can I do. As the plane touchesdown I can’t help but let out a tiny squeak of joy. The air was fresh with alittle hint of salt water. Not a cloud in sight the sun shone down upon me as Istepped off the plan.

The drive from the airport to the beachfront condos seemed like an eternity. Hearing waves crash on the shore is all Iwanted to hear; however, all I was hearing was car horns and my dad gettingfrustrated. I held my smile on my face by starring at the different sizes andshapes of palm trees that lined the roads. 

My parents had agreed if my brother andI could behave we would be allowed to take a break and go to Longboat Key,Florida. We were not about to pass up that opportunity. So we walked aroundwith fake smiles and trying as hard as we could not to rip each other’s headsoff for a month. We hugged and helped each other more then we usually would tomake sure we were able to go on this trip. Then the most astounding news wewould ever get our parents told us we were headed to the sunshine state. Inonly five hours I would be walking through sand that was flour and have the sunshining down on me.

            People would say after a couple daysof sitting on the beach you get tired of it; however, I knew I could never gettired of this place. Children splashed each other as the waves crashed alongthe shore. Adults laughed and talking watching their children run along thebeach. The only thing on my mind though was how long until the sun sets. Thirtyminutes until I would see magnificent shades of colors fill the clear blue sky.This has been the first time in two years since I’ve smelt the salty air. Itwas relaxing and peaceful. My brother and dad decided to head into the oceannot realizing how cold it was they dove right in like pelicans diving for fish.When they came up for air their faces were priceless; they were in total shockat how cold it was and began to shiver as they headed for the shoreline. Iwalked along the water listening to the seagulls and the waves brushing up ontothe shore.

            The sunset was halfway over when abucket of ice cold sea water was poured on my head. It made me cringe and Ifelt like I was completely frozen. My brother just laughed but stopped after Ithrew my shoe at him. All of a sudden my mom sprung up from her chair as if shewas a kangaroo. “Picture time,” she practically yelled at us. My brother and Iboth got up with groans and trudged down to where the waves break onto theshore. “Get closer to each other and act like you like each other,” she said,she says this every time we take a picture together, “I only want a couple ofyou two.” Once the picture taking ended I sat and admired how something sonatural can look so beautiful. The different shades of yellow, orange, red, andeven purple and pink blended together as if they were one. They danced acrossthe sky not leaving one area uncovered by their magnificent color palette. Evenmy brother and dad sat in awe at how beautiful nature can truly be.

            The week went by too fast for me. AsI sat on the plane on my way back home I thought of the extraordinary sunsetthat I had watched and wished that I would be going back soon. I just staredout my window and watched giant clouds go by in the air. It looked as if it wasgoing to rain and it did; thank goodness I wasn’t there having to spend my dayinside.

Into the Wild Blog #5

Postive Traits:

• Intelligent
• Polite
• Friendly/Social

Negative Traits:

• Know-it-all
• Headstrong
• Stubborn

Chris's positive traits made him aware of what coud happen in the world to him. Being polite can make people like him and not think badly of Chris. Since Chris is friendly to everyone he meets he has no trouble getting people to help him out or even give him things.
His Negative traits could of held him back at some points. Being a know-it-all no one would want to talk to him because they wouldn't want to be corrected or feel stupid. He was very headstrong; he wouldn't listen to what anyone would say even if it was important for him to know. Being stubborn can make others get annoyed by you and not want to deal with you on a daily bases or even on occasions.
Chris's strongest trait was being arrogant. He always thought he was better than anyone and everyone. Being arrogant can push family and friends away because they don't want to be around someone who thinks their better than them and lets them know every chance he gets.

Similarities:

• "I was twenty-three, a year younger than Chis McCandless..."(135)
• "I was surprised, as always, by how easy the act of leaving was, and how good it felt."(136)
• "...I didn't really mind the absence of intimacy in my life, the lack of real human connection..."(137)
• "I took some pictures to prove I'd been there..."(154)
• "...similarly affected by the skewed relationships we had with our fathers."(155)

Differences:

• "...my plan to climb the thumb, I was dimly aware that I might be over my head."(135)
• "And if I pull it off...I was afraid to let myself imagine the triumphant aftermath, lest i invite a jinx."(135)
• "...anticipating this hazard, I'd stopped at a hardware store and purchased a pair of stout aluminum curtain roads..."(138)
• "...I had paid a bush pilot in Petersburg $150..."(140)
• "As the days passed, I grew increasingly anxios."(140)

Into the Wild Blog #4

I was surprised he chose to get a job at McDonald's. I would of thought he would of tried to get a job that would make him have an effort when he worked. He might of applied for the job because he wondered what was going on in the world while he was secluded in the wilderness. McCandless was most likely wondering if people or society has changed while he was for a little bit.
Chris' colleagues described him as dirty but hardworking. Some of them really liked him but one did not feel the same way about him. Chris gets along with them but doesn't like how he gets bossed around by them. He did the work he was supposed to; however, when they told him to wear socks and take a bath he would get angry and not listen to them. If I worked with Chris I would probably be disgusted about how he looked and smelled when he would first start working. I would not like how he didn't like to answer to others; however, I like that he respects people no matter their rank.

Chris relationship was close with Jan and Bob Burres. When he left they couldn't help but worry about what could happen. When Chris returned Jan and Bob were surprised and grateful he was still alive.

Franz was effected more than anyone because he cared and worried everyday about Chris. He wanted to adopt Chris to be his son because he has no one else. Franz has adopted kids and helped them do better things for their lives. He wanted to do the same thing but he didn't realize that Chris has already gone through college. Franz could care for anyone he ever met but Chris was different he worried day in and day out. Chris wrote to Franz to make sure he didn't worry; however, the 81 year old man still did.

Into the Wild Blog #3

1. He is very smart
2. He comes from a wealthy family
3. Independent
4. Used to getting what he wants
5. He's adventurous  
6. Wanted to start over
7.He's a city boy
8. He's outgoing
9. Not worried about what others think
10. Giving
11. Doesn't like bothering others for food or money
12. He's thoughtful
13. Curios of the world
14. Not worried of what may happen
15. Confident
16. Used to owning nice things
17. Thinks he's ready for anything
18. He was loyal to his family
19. Didn't want people to worry about him
20. Spontaneous

It was surprising he would actually write to them. However, it was nice that he heard from them. His family is close in some ways but is also very distant from eachother. His intentions were probably to just go on vacation somewhere to get away. That changed quickly though. He ended up taking a longer time than he thought he would and ended up far from home.

Someone who takes radical actions in their life must be going through a rough time. He might of been having trouble with his family. Family drama can always drive someone to disappear for awhile until everything goes down. Also, he could of had some problems that just envolve him. He could be struggling to get a job to try and live on his own since he doesn't like having others take care of him.

Into the Wild Blog #2

At the begining he most definitely thought that he was prepared; however, while Jim Gallien talked to him on the ride he might of doubted if he was actually prepared. After being dropped off at his destination he gained back his confidence and believed that he could survive with everything he had in his possession. If I was him I would of brought an ax and a couple more food items.

In my opinion I believe that that was actually a good idea to start the story that way. Usually that would ruin it; however, it made me become interested and wonder what happened to him. That makes me actually want to go deeper into the book to find what I think it might mean. I believe he told the story this way to catch the readers attention. He probably thought that some people would not like the idea of spoiling the ending. On the other hand, he knew most people would be drawn to try and figure out what happened to McCandless.

I was a little terrified. If I was just taking a hike through the woods and all of a sudden see a note that someone might be dieing or even worse already be dead. My mind was flooding with things that could of happened to him while being in the wild by himself. All of the ideas were over whelming. Just putting me in his position and writing the note. He was hoping for someone to find him; however, he might of thought that no one would probably find him. It is a devastating to think of all the ideas of how he could of died. I know it's just the begining of the story, but I would really like to know what happen to McCandless.

Into the Wild Blog #1

He is a wako for going into the wild. People are right for thinking he is a little meesed up in his head. Also, he is admirable for doing something that he believes he can do. To one day just decide to head out to the wild and see if you can start a new life sounds crazy to everyone. He wants to find a new life because he is used to getting money and comig from a rich family.

McCandless wanted to try and know what it is like to fend for hisself and not depending on other people in their lives. I think he wants to this because he has probably gotten whatever he wanted when ever he wanted something. People who go one this journey want to try and figure out who they really are. They want to know if they can actually do something they put their mind to. Also, they want to prove people who say they can't do it wrong. Many people wory about what others think of them so they want to do something that no one else would  do to try and be completely different from others. Some tend to give up as soon as things get rough; however, McCandless was not about to give up on going out into the wild and finding what he needed to do.