https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq Made with fortitude en-us 2021-12-07 17:32:49 UTC 2025-10-16 00:14:09 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f99a.png cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1936421053 When I was younger, my family would always get me and my sister to travel around Asia because they wanted us to appreciate other cultures and environments outside of Vietnam. We would often go camping or hiking in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan. I think because of these experiences, I developed a passion to travel and it is my dream after college to go out and explore other countries I have not been before. Unfortunately, I have not been able to travel as much ever since I moved to the US.

I personally don't like nature as much, I just have an appreciation for it. I didn't like camping because I hated bugs and did not want to get myself dirty but I am grateful that my parents let us have that experience because of the valuable life lessons I learned by doing so. I knew how to be independent and learned the important of grit and determination by putting up with the wild.

I hope that by the time I am done with my education, I would have the opportunity to travel a lot more and explore places I haven't been before. I think the joy of life is to get out of your comfort zone and experience new things and meet new people which is why this is something I am passionate and determined on.]]> 2021-12-08 17:27:37 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1936421053 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1936425775 Summary:
Into the Wild is a story about a young and fearless man named Christopher Johnson McCandless who disappeared (p. 7) into the Alaskan wilderness. He started off his journey excited (p. 6) and ready to live with nature, carrying nothing but a rifle (p. 3) and a light backpack (p. 3). Little did he know, he was not nearly prepared enough for the harsh (p. 5) and unforgiving (p. 4) environment that he was wandering into. Chris came across Jim Gallien and hitchhiked a ride to the forest which is when Jim realized that Chris is stubborn and that nothing could change his mind despite his multiple attempts at warning him. After dropping him off, Jim contemplated reporting Chris to the Alaska State Troopers but changed his mind last second.

Analysis:
I do think that Christopher's actions are very spontaneous and that he is a brave and fearless person, I don't think that this type of behavior is something to admire. Chris already had a good life and a supporting family which he chose to abandon in order to pursue his dream of living with nature. I think that this was reckless and irresponsible considering that he probably did not think about what his loved ones will feel. One thing I do admire about him is that how he gave all his money away to charity before leaving, at least he cared about his community.

#spontaneous #discoveryourself #enlightenment]]> 2021-12-08 17:29:49 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1936425775 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1941345306 Summary:
On September 6, 1992, three different groups of people followed a trail where they came across the Fairbanks City Transit System Bus 142. On the bus (p. 13) was an S.O.S. (p. 14) note that Chris wrote as a cry for help (p. 12) to anyone around the area. The couple who first found the note was too afraid to examine what was inside the bus until another man, Samuel, stepped in. In the bus was a rifle and next to the rifle was a sleeping bag. After poking on the bag, it was clear that someone was inside and after further examination, they found Christopher's withered (p. 14) dead body. The cause of death was most likely starvation (p. 14). The couple suggested that Samuel carry the body away but he insisted that this was a job for the Alaska State Troopers.

Analysis:
I can't help but feel sorry for Chris while reading this chapter. Dying alone inside of a bus whilst freezing and starving at the same time must be one of the most painful experiences someone can go through. I wonder what happened to Chris that made him incapable of moving around and finding food. How was he injured? Nevertheless, he made the choice himself to go out into the wilderness so he should have been more prepared.

#memyself&i #coldandalone #frostbite]]> 2021-12-11 02:48:13 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1941345306 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1941392474 Summary:
Carthage is a small town in South Dakota where Chris claims as his home (p. 18). Wayne Westerberg was a man who lived in Carthage and came across Chris who was trying to hitchhike a ride. Since Wayne found Chris amiable (p. 16) and outgoing, he offered him a job and a place to stay at Carthage which Chris accepts. Chris also changed his name to Alex now but Wayne did not ask him why. Wayne and the people working there were now his new family (p. 18) despite his real family and home being back in Virginia. Chris was never really close to his family and made it clear that he plans to disappear right after graduation (p. 21). His parents wanted him to visit them one last time before doing so, which he nodded to, but the last they ever heard of him was from a letter talking about his grades. Chris wanted a new identity and to chase his own destiny (p. 23) and he left his family behind to do so.

Summary:
I don't agree with Christopher's decision to abandon his family and run away. I understand that everyone has issues with family but his family still clearly loves him so I don't know why he doesn't reciprocate their affection. He is still admirable for being able to live in a completely different area alone and having to make new connections himself but he all these problems are from his own decisions.

#ridingsolo #runaway #straykids]]> 2021-12-11 03:58:46 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1941392474 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1946089358 Summary:
Only a few months into his journey, Chris was driving his yellow Datsun down a road where a flash flood suddenly appeared and washed his car (p. 26) in a ditch. He was unable to start his car again so he abandoned (p. 29) it and continued his journey on foot and by hitchhiking. The authorities later found his car but without any identification, they did not know who it belonged to so they used it for their undercover (p. 27) drug interdictions. Chris ran into a lot of obstacles on his journey without his car. When he arrived in Northern California, he worked for a man named Crazy Ernie with a group of vagabonds (p. 30) but it was clear that Ernie had no intentions of paying Chris so he left. 11 days after, a ticket was sent to his family's house which alerted his parents that he was on the move so they hired a private investigator to track him down. Chris somehow found himself in Mexico and having a near-death experience which prompted him to return to the US and hitchhike to Las Vegas, Nevada, but without any form of identification (p. 37).

Analysis:
I admire the fact that he is still continuing his journey after all the obstacles that he has been through but something tells me that the universe is trying to get him to stop what he is doing but he won't get the hint. Chris is kind of stubborn in that sense.

#nevergonnagiveyouup #brokelife #isawthelight]]> 2021-12-14 03:37:17 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1946089358 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1948751086 Summary:
Chris' journey might have been ruined (p. 38) considering all the difficulties he went through, but he still hasn't given up. With his car abandoned, he traveled by bicycle and eventually reached Bullhead City in Arizona. Deciding to take a break from his odyssey, he found a job working at a McDonald's which he hated. During his time working there, he was homeless and was camping out at the edge of the city (p. 39) until he was offered to live in an old abandoned trailer (p. 42). His coworkers noticed that he was in need and offered to help him by giving him soap (p. 41) or a ride home but he always refused. The Burres one day received mail from Chris which had a return address (p. 42) which got them excited. They planned to come and visit Chris but the plan was shortly canceled after finding out that Chris quit his job and is back on the move.

Analysis:
It was great to see Chris take a break from his journey after everything he went through. He was broke and needed a place to stay so getting a job was the right thing to do. Even though he was being paid little, it was still better than nothing. I disagreed with him when he left his job because it wasn't like the job was interfering with his odyssey. He was still poor and had to rely on himself which was what he wanted in the first place.

#madeaclownofmyself #movingout #falsealarm]]> 2021-12-15 06:50:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1948751086 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1961639801 Summary:
On his journey, Christopher McCandless meets an 80 year old man named Ronald Franz. The old man has been living by himself for a long time because he had lost his family in the past and has been looking for someone to adopt a grandfatherly (p. 51) figure with but Chris was the first one to have a real connection with him. Chris was a wayfarer (p. 48) when Franz first met him so he offered Chris a ride from Salton City to his camp in Oh-My-God Hot Springs. They spent a lot of time and bonded together in his apartment (p. 49) where Franz would teach him his secrets and industry knowledge in making belts (p. 51). They made a belt together where Chris inscribed and decorated it to his pleasing. However, after becoming too close together, Chris announced that he would soon be moving to San Diego which made Franz sad. He offered Chris a ride there and even gave him equipment and gear (p. 54) which Chris reluctantly accepted. Then Franz asked Chris a big question, whether or not he could adopt (p. 55) him but Chris avoided the question and then soon made his departure. Franz was left sad but then took Chris' advice and set off on his journey as well.

Summary:
I feel very bad for Franz in this chapter because he has been alone for so long and his old age too. Once he found someone he really liked and had a genuine connection with, Chris then abandoned the poor guy because he can not handle social connections. I hope Franz was able to find joy in something else in his final years.

#left4dead #imasurvivor #oldcrow]]> 2021-12-23 05:53:10 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1961639801 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1961678260 Summary:
Christopher made his way to Carthage and then informed Westerberg, a good friend of his, that he would be staying until mid-April. While he was staying there, the people around him described Chris as lacking common sense (p. 62) which is due to the fact that he never was focused on what was in front of him. He was only focused on one thing and one thing only, Alaska. This might also be a factor in his sexual innocence (p. 65) because he was never interested in having a relationship with anyone. Instead, he embraced (p. 66) his relationship with nature which became the only thing he could think of. He also did not like the commitments and entanglements (p. 65) which was why he wanted to divorce (p. 64) his parents so he would never have to talk to them ever again. Before Chris left again, he writes Wayne a note, almost foreboding his death.

Summary:
I feel like Chris is kind of selfish in this aspect as well. He comes and visits new people who then welcomes him into their life. Then Chris gets too uncomfortable after some time of being close and then decides to leave and push them away. These people had already made a connection with Chris only to be pushed aside whenever he feels like it. I think Chris should establish from the start that he is not looking to become close with anyone to prevent anyone near him from getting hurt. 

#clueless #uravandcantdrive #sorrynotsorry]]> 2021-12-23 06:40:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1961678260 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1962905708 Summary:
Three other men, who shared the same tragic fate as Christopher McCandless, met their own demise (p. 70) as they traveled through the harsh Alaskan Wilderness. People described them as nuts (p. 71) because they attempted something that people deemed dangerous and unnecessary. In 1977, Gene Rosellini wanted to travel to Cordova in order to become a Stone Age native (p. 75) and connect to mother nature and our ancestor's primitive roots. When he first started out, he foraged and hunted for food but then soon realized that his attempt to be with nature was futile and was found dead with a self-inflicted (p. 76) knife wound to the heart. Similarly, a mountaineer (p. 76) named John Waterman attempted a climb on Ruth Glacier only to disappear and was never found again. Carl McCunn is another man with similar ideals to Chris and the others. He wanted to see how long he could survive in the wilderness but was then running out of food and supplies fast. As he was growing desperate, he saw an aircraft flying above him and tried to wave for help. It did not work because he was sending the wrong signal. Filled with defeat, he then later committed suicide.

Analysis:
As much as I feel bad for these three men who ended up like Chris and died in the wilderness, I can't help but wonder what made them think it was a good idea to try and survive out there in the first place. What could they have possibly gained in order to risk their lives like that? I also wonder if any of them have family and friends that they left behind because they also made poor choices just like Chris. I feel worse for the people that care for them more than the three men themselves.

#deadend #gameoflife #poorchoices]]> 2021-12-24 07:22:19 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1962905708 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1996700702 Summary:
Everett Ruess was raised by a well off family and spent most of his life growing up moving to different cities and states. The people that knew him described him as a romantic (90) but his disappearance (94) would soon baffle everyone he met. He graduated high school and took one semester at UCLA until he realized that what he really wanted to do was go on his own expedition and explore the wild in the southwest. During his journey, he would often write letters (91) to his loved ones describing his experiences and encounters. Similar to Chris, he also had an alias that he went by, Nemo, which he would inscribe on sandstone walls (90) and caves throughout his journey. When Ruess' family started to hear less and less from him, they organized a search party but unfortunately, all they could find were his belongings (94) at the bottom of Davis Gulch, Arizona.

Analysis:
I find it very interesting that Everett and Christoper were so similar. They both left their family and their good life to have their own expedition because they loved the wild. They both even wrote letters back describing their experiences to their loved ones and both even had a mysterious end to their story. I can never understand why someone would have the urge to leave everything behind and their motivation to do so.

#brotherfromanothermother #findingnemo #poetic]]> 2022-01-17 23:03:40 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1996700702 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1996861747 Summary:
Through intensive investigation, research, and speculation (99), Alexander Supertramp's true identity has been discovered. A newspaper (99) called the Daily Anchorage News covered a story on Alex which was how Gallien was able to find out about his death so he quickly contacted the Alaskan State Troopers. He remembers meeting someone named Alex back in South Dakota. With this newfound information, the Alaskan State Troopers were able to expand on their research. Word kept spreading about Alex's death until Wayne Westerberg found out through radio (100) while he was driving. He quickly came to the conclusion that this mysterious hiker who died was his friend (101) Alex that he met a few weeks ago and was devastated afterwards. Wayne had to convince the state troopers that he had ties to Alex so he could show them his social security number (101) and help track down his family.

Analysis:
I think it is so crazy how quickly information was able to spread about Christopher McCandless' death and how they were able to track down his family so fast. This was years ago too! I wonder how technology now has helped police figure out crimes and solve mysteries like this one. Christopher's story was tragic but I am glad that his loved ones got to hear what happened to him instead of being left in the unkown.

#whereswaldo #totaleclipseoftheheart #ineedahero

]]> 2022-01-18 02:01:55 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1996861747 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1996956692 Summary:
Walt, Billie, and Carine are all a part of Christopher's immediate family. Walt McCandless can be described as diligent and intense (105) who is hardworking and is willing to do anything to get to the top. Walt met Billie at his workplace and the two soon got married and had two children together. Both Walt and Billie were working when raising Chris and Carine therefore the two children practically grew up in an emotionally absent home. Chris was always fearless (109) growing up and sometimes did not obey to the rules set by his parents if he did not believe in them. This wanderlust (108) might be due to the fact that he spent some time with his grandpa who would constantly go on backpacking (109) trips. Chris was naturally good at everything, from academics to arts, and despite his natural hatred for the government and capitalism, he was also ironically a good salesman (110). He made some income remodeling homes and the owners were so impressed that they tried to persuade Chris to work in Annandale. He rejected the offer and left to spend the summer driving across the country.

Analysis:
I can see where the development of his mindset grew considering his living conditions growing up. However, it should still not be a valid reason as to why he made the choices he did. I also wonder how his sister Carine was affected as well and how is she like now. Is she anything similar to Chris?

#moneymoneymoney #naturevnurture #inmyblood]]> 2022-01-18 03:25:54 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1996956692 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997020619 Summary:
After graduating high school, Christopher McCandless would often take random road trips out of nowhere unannounced and it would often worry his family about his whereabouts. They knew it was bad when one day he returned home very dehydrated (118) and thirty pounds lighter. They got so worried that they tried to advise him to be careful (119) but knowing Chris, his pride and overconfidence (118) was too overpowering, ignoring his family. This would be seen while Chris was growing up as well. He was never really close with his friends or family, only fixated on his own interests. When Christopher was in college, he became especially distant once he found out this his dad cheated on his mom. He was never able to look past his father's lies (121) after that and all his resentment towards him kept building up inside. He started to write less and less until one day, he vanished (125) and completely cut off all contact for months.

Analysis:
I see where Chris is coming from now. I would be devastated too if I found out about my father's infidelity. However, he has a loving mom and sister and I don't think he should cut off all contact with them too just because of his resentment towards his father. His reasoning is still valid, in my opinion, just not the best.]]> 2022-01-18 04:18:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997020619 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997034075 Summary:
Carine, Christopher's sister, always misses Chris and remembers all the good times they shared together as kids growing up. She mentioned how they had a dog (128) named Buckley and how Chris would adore spending time with him. So much to the point where he wanted to bring him to Alaska as well but unfortunately didn't. This was because Buckley was still recovering from a car accident. Carine was weeping and went hysterical (130) when her husband told her that Chris died in Alaska. The two soon drove over to Walt and Billie to tell them the news and they all together grieved for months. Coping from his loss (132), Carine and her husband Sam flew to Fairbanks to collect his ashes (131) and the rest of his possessions (131).

Analysis:
I can not imagine how hard this must be for  Carine. Imagine not hearing from your brother for months only to find out that he died. The two of them must be very close to each other as well considering they grew up in an emotionally unavailable household where both parents were working so they only had each other to rely on.

#isawthesign #openupmyeyes #iamhappynow]]> 2022-01-18 04:28:24 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997034075 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997100865 Summary:
John Krakauer believes that Christopher's death was not planned and was entirely an accident since he had similar experiences facing the Alaskan wilderness. In Alaska, he went solo climbing (134) on the Devil's Thumb, described as a treacherous mountain range. In 1977, Krakauer quits his job because he had his eyes set for Alaska. During his journey, he abandoned his car and hopped on a workboat (136) that was named the Ocean Queen. When he reached his destination, he bought a pair of climbing rods (138) and began ascending the mountain. He had to endure harsh mountain climates and pass deep crevasses (138) in order to stay alive. When the night time comes, he would set up camp at the Stikine Ice Cap to rest and await airdrops. However, due to the harsh climate, the pilot (141) found it difficult to locate Krakauer, therefore, the plane leaves him and he accepts his loss.

Analysis:
It is so unfortunate that Krakauer was left alone like that. He must have felt devastated and thought he was hopeless but I doubt that since he seems like the person would never give up. I can never understand how some people have such a fascination with Alaska and the wilderness, it just seems so bizarre to me. 

#stranded #left4dead #aloneandafraid]]> 2022-01-18 05:23:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997100865 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997152094 Summary:
Krakauer remains days and days inside his tent that he set up at the base of the Devil's thumb. He debates on whether or not to reattempt climbing it and slowly loses his sanity as the days pass by. He started to smoke some marijuana, anything for entertainment. However, this was a huge mistake because he accidentally set part of his tent on fire (147) allowing the freezing cold wind to rush in, exposing Krakauer to the immense weather. Krakauer reminisces the past during his time in the tent and remembers how his father would always have such high expectations (147) for him and expected him to go to Harvard, believing that it was the only path to success. This caused a sudden surge of motivation within him and then he continued to climb the mountain during the day and spend the nights on ridges (151). Fortunately, he reached the top (153) of the Thumb and enjoyed every moment of redemption (151) while returning home. However, the people around him did not think it was very impressive which led to him believing McCandless was not suicidal, only unlucky.

Analysis:
I find that Krakauer is very amazing. He has so much willpower to not give up and see it all the way through until the end. That takes some serious grit. I wonder why people were not impressed by his feat. It is a very hard thing to accomplish climbing a mountain in harsh cold weather like that. 

#gimmegimmemore #fly #shouldwearawarning]]> 2022-01-18 06:09:07 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997152094 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997164470 Summary:
To start his journey to Alaska, Christopher McCandless hitchhikes (158) his way to Fairbanks. A kind man named Gaylord Stuckey drops him off at a university in order to learn about native edible plants in the area. He then bought a rifle (162) and gets dropped off again at the Stampede Trail by Gallien. He journeys across the Teklanika River and seeks refuge inside an abandoned bus (163) with nothing but a light backpack with him. Chris was not able to hunt and had to endure a famine (164), surviving off of nothing but berries that he picked in the area. With some practice, he was able to hunt for some small game while journeying west. With his skills improving everyday, he was eventually able to hunt down a moose (166) but did not have the preservation skills to keep the meat for long. After four months in the wilderness, he was ready to go back home and return to human civilization (168). However, when he tried to leave, he could not cross the river since the stream is too violent so he went back to the bus and waited.

Analysis:
This is so sad. He wanted to return to his family and civilization itself but was stopped by nature, the one thing he loved. Because of this, he died, waiting alone in an abandoned bus for the water to lower. This would not have happened if he had decided not to go in the first place anyway so it is kind of on him.  

#poorunfortunatesoul #sosadsosad #cryingandthrowingup]]> 2022-01-18 06:19:48 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997164470 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997177497 Summary:
Krakauer visits the Stampede Trail, the very place where Christoper McCandless died. With the aid of a topographic map (173) and his friends, he was able to cross the violent Teklanika River, the same river Chris failed to cross. The group found a tower station (174) downstream which would have been easily located if Chris was carrying a map of the surrounding area with him. When they crossed the river, they found the abandoned bus that Chris camped inside and next to it was a boneyard. Upon further examination of the bones, they found out that it was in fact not a moose, but a caribou (176) that he hunted down. Inside the bus was some graffiti (179) and hiking boots that Chris left behind. When it was night time, the group set up a campfire in the area and reflected on Christopher's arrogance (181) and his lack of experience in the wilderness.

Analysis:
Damn that is crazy. If only Chris had a map with him he would have been able to survive so easily. I respect the fact that he wanted to be all natural and not materialistic but at least bring some things that is considered essential for survival. We all know what happened if one were to completely ignore that. Anyway, I do agree that Chris was a bit arrogant in his skills due to the fact that he has no experience in the wild at all. Maybe the fact that he grew up being good at everything influenced him too much.

#dudewheresmycar #youandmeinthemoonlight #letsdancethenightaway]]> 2022-01-18 06:31:03 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997177497 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997191668 Summary:
During his last few weeks in Alaska, Chris remained on the bus (188) as he patiently waits for the water level to lower. The very last book that Chris read was Doctor Zhivago and the phrase "happiness is only real when shared" (189) was written on a page. This might be a hint that Chris was ready to head back into society again but unfortunately could not. His body started to deteriorate and even though there are multiple theories as to why the most probable one was that he ate a poisonous plant that he mistook for sweet peas (191). His immune system became weaker and weaker and soon was not able to fight off the toxins of the plant. During this time, he continues to keep log entries in his journal that were full of pleas for help. On his last days, he stopped going by the alias Alexander Supertramp and continued as Christopher McCandless. Before he dies from starvation (198), he takes one final photo and wrote his last entry: " I HAVE DIED A HAPPY LIFE AND THANK THE LORD. GOODBYE AND MAY GOD BLESS ALL!" (199).

Analysis:
I think this story is very tragic. I got very sad knowing that in his final days, he dropped his alias and went by his real name. It is as if he finally realized that what he was doing was a mistake and started to regret his actions which I agree with. He should have never embarked on this journey, to begin with, and I stand by that.

#weewooweewoowee #shetookmetothesky #iminastateofmind]]> 2022-01-18 06:43:08 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/1997191668 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/2000983482 Summary:
John Krakauer joins Christopher's parents, Walt and Billie, to visit the infamous bus. They originally wanted to cross the river as Chris did but the water stream was too violent so they had to travel by helicopter (200) instead. They flew over the Stampede Trail and landed a couple of yards away from the site. When they saw a view of the Alaskan woods, they stopped and admired its beauty. Walt even mentioned how he can see why Chris had an obsession with Alaska after witnessing its natural beauty. When they came to the bus,  Walt and Billie needed all the courage they had to go in and look at the interior. Billie examined all the possessions that Chris left behind including a pair of hiking boots (202) and ragged jeans (202). After that, they set up a memorial (202) in the name of Chris and when they decided to leave, Billie left behind a suitcase (202) full of survival necessities and a note saying to call your parents as soon as possible. They leave by helicopter and watched as the bus became smaller and smaller.

Analysis:
I think Krakauer did a very good thing here. With the book he wrote, he was able to help Walt and Billie gain the courage to visit the area their son died at. I feel like it must have been very hard for them but they were able to stay strong. I think it was very sweet of Billie to leave behind the suitcase full of essential items. She is caring for other people who might be like Chris. The note she leaves is also heartbreaking.

#therewasntacloudinasky #itlookslikrain #whydidhetellus]]> 2022-01-19 17:11:39 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/2000983482 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/2003386688 Summary:
Almost 23 years after the death of Christopher McCandless, Krakauer still continues his search for the cause of his starvation (1) and ultimately his death. The biggest leading factor was a passage from his diary (3) where he mentioned that he ate some Eskimo potato seeds. Someone gave Krakauer a tip that said those types of seeds contain a neurotoxin (6) called beta-ODAP. This prompted Krakauer to do more research on this topic and with the help of chemists, he was able to run multiple tests in labs in order to confirm his suspicions. When the lab results came back, it actually showed that the seeds have a toxic amino acid (10) called L-canavanine. This form of amino acids makes you lose your metabolism (10) which explains why Chris starved to death despite having food on him. This is especially unfortunate because these plants only become toxic during the midsummer, around the time Chris started his journey. With this, Krakauer ends his research and came to the conclusion that Chris ate the plant without knowing it is potentially toxic leading to his death.

Analysis:
I feel very bad for Christopher. He had such a long and good journey too but it all went wrong because of one small mistake. To know that he died because of something out of his own control and that he had no knowledge about is very heartbreaking. Chris was at the end of his Alaskan odyssey too and the fact that he wanted to return to civilization at the end but couldn't and ultimately died because of that. This was the reason why I never approved of this journey in the first place.

#toxic  #babycantyousee #poisonparadise]]> 2022-01-20 17:10:21 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/2003386688 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/2003387210 When I was a kid back in Vietnam, my parents would always take me and my sister to travel around South East Asia. We have been to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia, Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore. Any chance my parents saw, they would take it. Every summer or winter break we had, there was always something new to go to. My sister and I loved everything about it. We got to see beautiful beaches and taste fantastic foods we never heard of before and I think this is the reason why I fell in love with exploring new places and trying out new cuisines. Unfortunately, ever since I got to the US, we have not been able to travel around as much anymore. These past two years I have been mainly focused on my education and nothing else since we sacrificed everything to get here and for me and my sister to have a better education.

Similar to Chris (but not really), I want to finish all my education first before I start on my own journey. I want to continue what my parents were doing when I was younger and that is to continue exploring Asia. The one place I want to go the most is China and I want to live there for a while as well. There is a massive Chinese population in Vietnam and I grew up learning Chinese from families in the neighborhood so I feel like transitioning to living in China would not be too difficult for me. I want to explore all the cuisine they have to offer and learn all the traditions and cultures that the people there grew up with. I think most of it is pretty similar to Vietnamese traditions as well. All this is very exciting for me because I like the aspect of the unknown so I have no idea what will lie ahead for me and I can not wait to find out.

#intotheunknown #ohmyyogg #tasty]]> 2022-01-20 17:10:35 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/2003387210 cqtruong100_2 https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/2007834162 While I was reading this book, I can not help but be so frustrated by every single one of Christopher's actions. It is so infuriating that every action Chris takes hurts all the people around him that love him and care for him but he does not give them a second thought. Although his end was very heartbreaking, it does not mean that all his actions are forgiven.

There are some times that Chris had his good moments. I find the fact that before he left, he donated nearly $24,000 to charity, a very chivalrous and generous act of his. I don't know why he decided to be considerate towards charity but not the people who actually love him but at least he was still being considerate. I guess I also admired how fearless he was. He was not afraid of going into the wild with no prior experience at all and even rejected Gideon when he offered Chris some supplies to help him. Some might say he was being stubborn but you can't disagree that he was being very fearless and he had the confidence in himself to back that up. 

I understand that Chris has a fear of commitment which is why he pushes anyone that tries to get close to him away but he has to understand that he hurt a lot of people by doing that. He pushed his family away and even his sister who he claimed he loved the most but could not even write to her at all. The most heartbreaking of all was Ron Franz in my opinion. He was an old man who already lost all of his family so when Chris came, he saw him as a son and even wanted to adopt him but when he asked Chris that, Chris just left him alone. How could he do that?? I feel so bad for Ron.

In the end, Christopher's demise is very gut wrenching. He was so close to completing his own odyssey. If only he had a map and knew where to go instead of letting the river current stop him. Furthermore, staying back a few days did not directly cause his death but it was the fact that he ate a plant he thought was safe but had no idea was poisonous at that time of the year. Imagine dying of something you had completely no control over. I hope people remember this story so that in the future, no one would make the same mistake as Chris.

#atfirstiwasafraid #iwaspetrified #iwillsurvive]]> 2022-01-24 02:45:12 UTC https://padlet.com/cqtruong100_2/jvjo0i08m9ziy7xq/wish/2007834162