Into the wild blog 4

I definitely didn't expect Chris to get a job at McDonald's. I mean, he had a college degree. You would think that somebody with a degree from Emory University would not be working at McDonalds. I think he just needed some extra cash to get him place from place. McDonalds was an easy job, which was the direct opposite of what his degree and/or family expected him to do. Chris didn't see working for a living as a vital part of his life; he considered it more like a temporary thing to help him earn cash for his trips.  Working some place like McDonalds made it easy for him to just leave it behind when he saved enough money to continue his trip. Some of the workers appreciated Chris' hardworking initiative, while others just didn't want him there. They said he constantly had a stench to him, and they were always trying to convince him to take a bath. They actually even offered to give him soap, but of course he refused.  I think they were just confused by him for the most part. He eventually got bothered by their request and just decided to walk out one day, and never came back.  If I had the opportunity to have worked with Chris, I would have treated him like I treat everyone else which is fairly and with respect.  I probably would have felt bad for him and most likely would have wanted to help, though I am sure he would not have accepted it.

Jan Burres and Bob were extremely nice to Chris. They kind of took Chris under their wing, you could say. They talked to him, fed him, and even let him camp out with them. I think Chris highly respected what they did for him and thats why they got along so well. They were genuiely nice people, and they never really questioned him about his lifestyle. They just accepted him for who he was, and Chris liked not being questioned for where he came from, and what he was doing.  He seemed to always be looking for people who would just accept him for who he was without trying to change him.

I think there are several reasons why Ronald Franz was affected by having met Chris McCandless.  First, he lost his own child in an automobile accident with a drunk driver.  After his child was killed, Franz unofficially took care of several children overseas and wanted to do the same for Chris.  I think he saw Chris as someone he could take care of.  I also think that Mr. Franz was a lonely man who truly enjoyed Chris' company and their time together.  Chris was intelligent, a hard worker and a person who Mr. Franz could genuinely respect.