Chapter 1, "Serving in Florida" Summary and Analysis

Ehrenreich decides to start her search for work in a town nearby. Key West, Florida is a growing city where she fears being recognized. However, in the end nobody takes notice of her.

Her first task is to look for a place to live. The author is able to find a small one-room apartment for 500 dollars per month, which she figures will suit her budget if she can land a $7 per hour job and lives a very marginal existence. The tiny efficiency apartment is at least 45 minutes away from the heart of the business district where she's likely to get a job.

Ehrenreich puts on neat but somewhat casual clothes, drives into town and begins placing applications at Best Western, the Econo Lodge, Howard Johnson's, the Winn Dixie supermarket and the dozens of...