To start my blog, directly from Teheran, Sepideh's favorite song. It's in my head (and in my room) all the time.

Some people sing Happy Birthday to themselves. I wish myself ‘Welcome Back'!

UWC USA is like and old and faithful friend, it looks like the school has been waiting for us to come back to be alive after a long summer hibernating. Nothing had changed over summer, and I found my boxes exactly where I had left them before leaving, in the ‘Wilderness Leaders' section of Chum's storage room. First box: What on Earth was I thinking when I bought a dog leash last year? Second box: Oh no, why did I not clean this before packing it? Third box ... When I found my twelfth box, it was time to leave for Ghost Ranch.

After months and months of classes, first aid tests, packing, unpacking, repacking, checking the stoves, refilling the shit kits and planning, we finally hit the trail. With my co-leaders Luis (Mexico) and Mathew (USA-Tennessee), we brought our Firsties on top of Kitchen Mesa.

 On the picture, from top to bottom : Luis (Mexico), Peter (USA-Massachusetts), Mike (USA-Montana / chemistry teacher), Marc(Spain), Mathew (USA-Tennessee), Charlotte (Belgium), Zipporah (USA-Massachusetts), Ece (Turkey), Gal (Israel) and Violet (Tanzania).

When we got back on campus, just the time to take a shower, and there was Welcome Dinner.  Now imagine us trying to get in alphabetical order by country. Afghanistan, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, Belgium, Bhutan ... And here I come with my flag. Our flag.

 Picture: Charlotte with the Belgian flag, Kinley with the Bhutanese flag.

My dress is now in the wardrobe because classes have started. Monday: Chem, Geo, Francais, Math, Theatre. I am leading volley-ball and Las Vegas Medical Center CAS. And guess what, this year, instead of having one great roomie, I got ... two !

 Surabhi, Firstie from Nepal, Sepideh, my co-year from Iran, and myself, on our roomie dinner at Little Moon, the Chinese restaurant in Las Vegas.

Right now, Surabhi is on the phone, gossiping about her friends back in Kathmandu, and Sepideh is sitting on the chilling area of our room Facebooking our second year from Afghanistan.  Room 202 is our home sweet home and everything is working smoothly.

Next big thing coming up : Buddy Dance, on the 20th. I know who my buddy is, but I've got to keep it secret until then... I will keep you updated !