1 month in, ~56 miles hiked. 1 month to go, ~60 miles to go. Hey!!!! I'm going to write one message to send to all my friends since i have very little time before I return to the mountains. It is 3pm right now, i got home last night at about 2am after much partying and celebrating with my friends in LA. We went to a Japanese restaurant and then bowling then just hung around and talked. So, I've finished one month of work and I have one more to go! It's tiring, very tiring, but the kids usually leave our camp with more respect, working hard and believing in themselves. Next session, i will have a different duty in camp. I'll be preparing the supplies for the hiking: backpacks, tools, and other supplies. This past time it rained on us for 3 days! Haha, we had to quickly design a tent to protect us from the water and hail (small balls of ice formed at high altitude and at cold temperatures). The last day it rained, we walked about 3 miles to find a secret spot where we could swim and enjoy the water... When we arrived, we saw that the water was too deep and unsafe and then it started to rain, haha! We had to walk all the way back to our campsite in the rain. We were wet and it was a bit boring for a lot of the time, but on the last day, the sun came out and stayed out and we were able to walk all the way back home dry. Had to kill snakes on the way back home... they would not leave our group alone. Scary, sad, but had to be done. It was pretty fun, when it wasn't raining. Of course, after no one wanting to talk to eachother at the beginning, the kids became best friends and almost cried the day we left back home. Anyway. Thanks for your messages. I'm washing my clothes right now and listening to some music. Weezer, Maladroit actually. I miss the summer here in the city. It's hotter in the mountains. it was about 39 degrees celsius this past week there (but very cold in the rain), but we have nice breezes to keep us cool. In slightly related news, my calves are huge, like Popeye huge. I'm thinner and feel all around better :) Yay for me. Hugs, your friend Ralph :D Miss you all, hope you are having TONS and TONS of fun

I'm going out! If I don't come back, avenge my death! ^ It's a Simpsons reference.^ If you don't get the show in your country, I forgive you for being confused and I weep for you. You're missing out on a great show. Those of you with tests coming soon, Good Luck! Study, study, study. Then relax. Don't stress out the day or your exam. Breathe. You know who you are and I want to hear good news when I return. Those of you on vacation, Have Fun! Wish I was there on the beaches in Europe with you. Bring back fun stories to tell. I've gone through a couple of Spanish books. :) I should find more; any recommendations? I'm still on lesson 3 of my Romanian Pimsleur CD :P Now I need to break out the workbook so I can learn to spell what I am trying to say. I'm leaving for a short while. See you guys later. Have a fun and rewarding summer! I'll do my best to bring some cool photos and memories. Enzeleg putsin romaneshte!!1!