Looking for Alaska Chapter 1 Summary

one hundred thirty-six days before

• Miles decides to leave his parents in Florida to go to Culver Creek Boarding School in Alabama (don't worry, he still loves them).
• A pathetic going away party for Miles boasts only two pseudo-guests who Miles would rather not see.
• When asked why he's leaving, Miles tells his parents he's going "to seek a Great Perhaps" (136before.18). These are the last words of the poet Francois Rabelais, and they have stuck with Miles.
• Miles loves people's last words.