Day 1:Still looking fresh and enthusiastic

Hi!
Did you miss me? Did you miss me as much as I missed you? If I'd had my laptop with me I'd have posted something every day - something about the green and shadowy beauty of the rainforest; the impenetrable jungle, the handsome colobus monkeys, the huge sky, the excess of stars (all in the wrong place!), the dark, the cold, the absolute awfulness of the final ascent.

I'd have written about my co-climbers, about the Tanzanian guides and porters who got us there and back more or less safely. I'd have told you about the brilliantly-coloured flowers and the exotic trees, the butterflies, the chameleons and the tiny lizards whose markings were so well-defined they looked like they'd been drawn with a sharp pencil. And I guess that sooner or later I'd have told you about altitude sickness, sunburn, total physical exhaustion and, yes, fear.

Bet you're really glad I didn't have my laptop with me, then, aren't you?

There were times, in that beautiful place, when I thought of some of you by name (What would Alex from Russia think about this? How would Rajveer react to that?) and wondered what you were doing at the precise moment I was staggering up and up and up, feeling worse and worse and worse. I imagined you at work, studying, out with friends, doing 'normal' things while I occasionally lifted my eyes from the ground and marvelled at a rock formation, another extinct volcano, a family of blue monkeys (yes, they really are blue) or a snowstorm of trembling butterflies.

I thought of Lucy, too, of course, and wondered whether there would be anything left of my nice little house in west London when I returned. Would she be lonely? (Probably.) Would she eat properly? (Probably not.) Would she wear sensible clothes? (Almost certainly not.) Would she be out every night at wild parties? (Not really Lucy's style, or am I being very naïve?) Would she be safe while I was away? (Of course, I hoped so.)

Day 2:The summit is in sight

Now, just in case you've been dutifully reading all this but really have no idea what I've been talking about perhaps I should explain that I have been in Kenya and Tanzania for a couple of weeks. In the middle of February I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro (5896 metres).

Lucy is my 18 year-old daughter and she stayed at home while I was away. Home is in the Richmond area of west London. I am a writer and a teacher of English.

Last December and this January I blogged on this website with two delightful students from Lima and Seoul. If you go to 'student blog' and 'teacher blog' and then click on 'archive' you can select December 06 and January 07 and read our blogs where you'll find some references to my plans to visit East Africa.

And now - oh, lucky man! - the BBC has given me this little space where I can write to you once a fortnight.

You can write to me, too. Readers' comments are always fascinating to read. I 'll try to address as many of them as possible, especially if a common theme emerges. I will also include study material with each column I produce to help with your English studies.

Day 3:At Zebra Rock

I've just re-read what I have written so far. When I came to the sentence, 'In the middle of February I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro', I realised that I have made it sound like the most straightforward thing a person could do. It was not straightforward. It was the toughest thing, physically, I have ever done in my life, and nothing really prepared me for the almost traumatic final ascent.

Having spent almost four days climbing up through the rainforest and jungle and out onto moorland and then, eventually, onto naked rock, we set off, at midnight on our fourth day, for the final ascent. The climb is steep and the altitude makes every step heavy, slow and painful. It was freezing cold and unpleasantly windy. It was dark except for the little pools of light from our head torches. But it was light enough to see the frightening drops on either side as we climbed higher and higher, slower and slower.

Day 4:Exhausted, but still trying to look ready for the final ascent

One of our group suffered a very frightening cardiac arrest on the top of the mountain and two others had mini mental breakdowns. Several were injured on the way up and I managed to cut my knees badly (the next day) on the way down.

Most of us had some form of altitude sickness and our doctor worked very hard (and with exceptional professional skill) to keep us all in good shape. We had amazing leaders, both British and Kenyan, and all the local Tanzanian guides who came up with us and helped us back down again were truly outstanding.

Within the group there were several of our co-climbers who showed selfless dedication to looking after those of us who came down the mountain miserable with the cold, and completely exhausted.

Despite all that I don't think there was one person in our group who regretted going to Tanzania to climb that very special mountain.

Post a comment about some special challenge you have completed or about something in your life which was very demanding and/or frightening. Maybe you have an opinion about the ethics of doing this kind of thing. I was shaken by the poverty I saw in Tanzania and even in Kenya. Does this kind of trip help or make things worse, in your opinion? Do you have ideas or suggestions about so-called Third World poverty? Send us your reactions, ideas, suggestions or general comments. I will devote an entire column to some of your responses after my next column (which will appear two weeks after the posting date of this one).

By the way, the house was still standing when I got back, and Lucy had prepared the most wonderful breakfast for us. There was my favourite champagne, freshly-squeezed orange juice, fresh croissants and warm bread rolls, French butter and English marmalade, a pot of strong coffee and, for my sister (who had completed the climb with me) a 'nice pot of tea'. After breakfast I showered for half an hour and then I slept for a fortnight!

Back home:Me and my 'kid' sister enjoying Lucy's wonderful 'Welcome Home' breakfast.

It's good to be back.

Stephen

SOME USEFUL WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS
miss
If you miss someone you feel a little sad because they are not with you.

as much as
This is a useful structure for making comparisons. Here it is used to mean, 'Did you miss me in the same way that I missed you?' or 'Did you miss me the same amount as I missed you?'

laptop
portable computer

impenetrable
dense; impossible to get through; impossible to penetrate

ascent
climb[noun] (up)

co-climbers
people who climbed with me

porters
people whose job is to carry baggage and equipment

more or less
This is a useful expression when you don't want to (or cannot) be precise.

chameleons
types of lizard whose skin can change colour to match the colour of its environment

lizards
small reptiles with short legs and a long tail (sometimes called geckos)

markings
shapes, patterns or designs on the surface of the lizards' (or other animals') skin

Bet…
Here this is short for 'I bet…' and means the same as 'I think' or 'I believe' or 'I expect'.

by name
specifically

staggering
walking with difficulty (because of a heavy weight or the steepness of the path, or, as in this case, altitude sickness)

marvelled at
If you marvel at something it fills you with joy or admiration.

extinct
dead; inactive (The word is also used about animal species which have totally disappeared from the Earth.)

trembling
fluttering; shaking nervously

naïve
A naïve person believes that things are much simpler (much less complex) than they really are.

dutifully
with a sense of obligation

address
deal with; answer

emerges
appears; develops


QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT
1. In the third sentence there are two uses of the contraction 'I'd'. What are the correct, uncontracted forms of each?
2. Why were the stars "all in the wrong place"?
3. What is the opposite of 'ascent'?
4. What, in the first sentence of the second paragraph, suggests that there were some minor accidents?
5. Why is the word 'normal' (fourth paragraph) in single inverted commas?


GRAMMAR
1. Miss
There are several meanings and uses of 'miss'.
a) You can miss a bus or a train or a plane, for example, which means you fail to catch it.
b) You can miss a target when shooting a gun or playing darts. That means you don't hit the target. This expression can be used figuratively, too, for example when talking about achieving or not achieving an objective.
EXAMPLE: The company missed its sales targets this month and will have to do better next month to compensate.
c) In a discussion you can 'miss the point', which means you fail to understand the other person's meaning.
d) The word 'missing' is used to describe people who are not where you expect them to be.
EXAMPLE: He hadn't been at work for over a week so we reported him missing to the police.
It is also used to describe something which should be available or present, but which is not:
EXAMPLE: I can't assemble the bookshelf because there's a screw missing.

2. Prefixes to indicate opposites
Notice the word 'impenetrable', in the third sentence. It means the opposite of 'penetrable'. Use a good dictionary to help you find words formed with a prefix (such as im- , for example) which mean the opposite of the following words:
EXAMPLE: usual [adjective]; unusual
normal [adjective]
frost [verb]
arm [verb]
encourage [verb]
empower [verb]
mobilise [verb]
accelerate [verb]
enable [verb]
fasten [verb]
tie [verb]

3. Conditionals
Look at the text once more. Underline every example of a conditional structure you can find. Most are contracted forms, such as 'I'd'. Make sure you know and understand the uncontracted form of each contraction used before you look at the answers below.




ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS ON THE TEXT
1. If I had had my laptop with me I would have posted something every day.
2. Because the writer is from the northern hemisphere and Kilimanjaro is in the southern hemisphere. The use of the word 'wrong' here suggests that the writer is confused by the positions of the stars, not that he believes they are actually in the wrong place.
3. descent
4. The use of the expression 'more or less'.
5. To highlight the fact that what the writer was doing (i.e. climbing Mount Kilimanjaro) was not normal.

CONDITIONAL SENTENCES
1. If I had had my laptop with me I would have posted something every day.
2. I would have written about my co-climbers…
3. I would have told you about the brilliantly-coloured…
4. …I would have told you about altitude sickness…


WRITE TO STEPHEN
This section has now closed. Thank you for your comments.

Farid, Bangladesh
Hi Stephen!I'm new here. But I've enjoyed your thrilling story of ascent. I think you've realised the curse of poverty from very close at tanzania and kenya. This is more or less a distinguished picture of the third world country. I think they are not human they are poor. Otherwise, why do we spend billions of dollar in the name of war against terrorism but not in the war against poverty?

Paulraj, India
Dear Stephen,What a great achiever you are? I remember that how you were afraid of taking vaccination before your journey. You behaved like a child. But now you must be a proud man. You completed the toughest job. The other normal people may not think about this. And another think I want to mention here is you have made many sacrifices. You have given up many habits for your great ambition. Particularly you avoided to have coffee before your journey. Even though it’s very small thing it will be very hard to give up. But you did and attained the goal. I congratulate you for all your great effort.The teacher blogger in the month of Feb and Jan stressed the self discipline and English learning. I realize that it is true we must maintain some regularity or sincerity in our day to day life to acquire any new language. Do you agree with that? I have been trying to improve my English language many years. But still I feel I could not achieve the desire results. I could not maintain regularity. I am not ready to give up some of the habits I have developed in the past. You will be the model for us to take toughest path for greater glory.

Veronica, Brazil
Hi, Stephen.My name is Verônica Taís It's my first time here and I enjoy to read about your trip to Tanzania.I think it's very good to travel around the world, because we learn more about others cultures and have fun too.

Collins--Kenya
Its interesting to read of your adventure in the mountains,the introduction is amazing-have realy learnt alot and hope to -from you.Thanks and God bless you.

Mallikarju Sasalatti, Belgaum District of Karnatka
Hi Stephen, This is Mallikarjun from India.Some where I read this sentence, " Aim at the sky but you may not reach that, Aim at the stars but you may not reach that". Practically, the person like you become a rolemodel for the others. You experince gave us to understand our self strength. I think living for others with a moral is more superior than self living. you came back with rebirth, share your good/bad experinces with us to make this mother earh livingful. Good luck for safe return, keep up doing good things,Warm regards,Mak Sasalatti

Zafar Iqbal, England
Hi Stephen!I would not say that I missed you as this is my 1st day to visit this section of BBC English learners. However, your style of teaching English is very interesting and easy to understand. When I was reading details of your journey, mind was flying with the fantastic memories of my 2 years ago experience of hiking in Norway when I travelled in a hilly area for a long time, enjoying bewitching natural beauty of Norwegian mountains.You have mentioned about the experiences of poverty in third world. I think whenever some one from any developed country visits poor countries of Asia or Africa; it’s amazing and unimaginable for him/her.However, in practical world it happens. Of course, a large number of people are still living a deplorable life in many parts of world. I believe that this is due to unequal division of resources of the world. Only by distributing these resources on the basis of justice and equality, we can eradicate the curse of poverty, illitracy and disease from this planet.

Maribel, Spain
Hello Stephen. I bet you are incredibly happy doing those kind of things.there are challenges that are worth...I envy you, I hope one day I´will do something similar.I like sports and I like overall chalenges, but life is life...and I would like learn more english, of course. I have just found learning English and I promis I will read all about your trips or whatever you write. Good luck!

MARIBEL.SPAIN
HELLO STEPHEN.I BET YOU ARE INCREDIBLY HAPPY DOING THOSE KIND OF THINGS.THERE ARE CHALLENGES THAT ARE WORTH...I ENVY YOU,I HOPE ONE DAY I´WILL DO SOMETHING SIMILAR.I LIKE SPORTS AND I LIKE OVERALL CHALENGES,BUT LIFE IS LIFE...AND I WOULD LIKE LEARN MORE ENGLISH,OF COURSE.I HAVE JUST FOUND LEARNING ENGLISH AND I PROMIS I WILL READ ALL ABOUT YOUR TRIPS OR WHATEVER YOU WRITE.GOOD LUCK!

Joy Prince, India
Hi stephen, I am very happy that you are back to teach something which is very useful to us.I was so thankful to you and your team.Teach me more about grammer

Shirley , Beijing,China
Hi Stephen.I am so happy to read your article again.I have not thought I would have chance to read your words again and I was sad at it when I read blogs these days.To be honest I dont remember or miss every teacher of mine ,but I miss you and thought it's a sadness I would not know whether you have came back safety. Maybe u don't believe it,but i would say it is the true thought from the bottom of my heart. I will keep up reading your column .I have tried to answer your questions,and my answers are as follows:1. The uncontracted forms of them are “I had” and “I would”.2. You have been in China for a couple of years.Have u heard of or known the Chinese phrase “眼冒金星” which means there are a lot of golden stars shining before one’s eyes because of being tired. So I guess you also saw a lot of virtual stars before your eyes because of being exhausted.I hope it is not a too stupid answer.3.The opposite of “ascent” is descent.4.“more or less safety” suggests that there were some minor accidents .5.Do u use it just as a symbol to all the normal activity or does it mean the word here has the different meaning from its general usage. I am not sure about it .Good luck to you !

Marianna, Slovakia
Hi! In reality, I climebed rocks not far from the west border of the Czech republic around the town Dečín in summer 1982.There gathered young people in a camp to plant fir trees on a very devastated sad looking area where forests were died from the chemical factory emission. There were sandstone area too and I climebed up approximately 3O m tall stone chimney. The action ended by a jump from one top of the stone to another in order to reppel down. I suffer not only from claustrophobia but a fear from heights too. What was the gap like I had to jump through I don`t want cast to my mind back. That it was, I was young! Secondly, I reached the hight of the mount Elbrus in Kaukasus by cableway about 7 years later. The altitude made me crouch to the nearest rock down immediately after some steps and in that position I went through the whole way back in a cabin. But, the People I met there and the scenery I could admire are my best memories. Happiness for everyone!

Ali,Iran
Dear Stephan, I’m really happy to hear again of you, I had followed your entire blog in January and enjoyed a lot of it , and now you have a column and all of us are your students what a great place for relating with you! I made a hardcopy of your first column and read it many times and want to do same for all of your columns, I don’t read your blogs just for learning English, I enjoy reading it, because you have a special idea about everything, and have a ability to explain it as finest way that is possible

Graciela, Santa Fe (Argentina)
Hello Stephen! It’s a great news your return on the BBC Learning English. I’m very happy for your column!. I’ve got a day off today (I’m a lawyer) so I have all the time for me so I could re-read your column many time. One of your questions in your column is extra: obviously, all your students (including me) missed you!! :). You are a very nice person and a didactic teacher. I love your style of writing and your witty humour. By the way, I recommend your posted on Friday 22nd December 2006 to everyone. Your comment on London is not floggy make me laugh until I cry. Dear Teacher, although I have got some ideas about so-called Third World poverty I can’t tell you because of I haven’t got a wide active vocabulary. My English is quite poor. In spite of what I say, I wish join in your column (more reading than writing). One of my New Year’s resolution is to study English very hard this years (I hope don’t fail in this attempt) I have been learning for three and half years and I have been finding it’s very difficult for me. Well Stephen, I like to finish with an apology for my poor English and my certainly spelling and grammar mistakes and my sure use of verbs in incorrect tense. I’m wondering if you could explain the differences between future perfect and future continuous. I’m looking forward to read your next column. All the best for you and Lucy. Graciela

Adrianna, Colombia
Hi Stephen, now I am sure that I am goin to learn English. Thank You very mach for your help and good luck. All the best for you and Lucy.

Abdullah, KSA
hi Stephen . I'm new here , and I am very happy to be hereI don't want to talk alot because my language is not quite good

Eugenia,Italy, Imperia
I' ve just finished to read about your Journey-it was casually, truly speaking, I was trying to do some grammar ex.- and.. I liked it.because I usually like this kind of readings. On my side- I have a "quiete" life(life is never quiete)but, fortunately, I've got a lot of imagination and a big hobby-reading!So..I mostly travel with my mind! Ah, my name is Eugenia, I teach in Primary schools. I wish you many other beautiful-interesting journeys (always coming back safely!)Bye!

Nozomi,Japan
Hi,Stephen!!It's been a long time.I cannot discrib how glad I am that you show up on this blog again and share your outstanding experiences with us.Speaking of Tird World Poverty,I read an article about Darfur in Sudan where people are suffering from bomb attacks on BBC'S Web site the other day.As is mostly the case, no matter how small　a war is,it causes poverty as well as hatred .What we can do is really limited,but if we get together, something may change.The NGO's activities are good example.They devote themselves to somehow encouraging people in poverty to escape from the hardships.Even if you're not one of the members,you might be instrumental in helping them by contribution.Anyway,what we have to begin is to notice the crucial fact,and consider about it by ourselves or with our friends.I think it makes a difference wheather we know the present statament we should face now or not.And then,we can act concretely.By the way,I always wonder how many people could be saved if celebriries who earn a great deal of money had to contribute the amount of money fixed by an international(multilateral) traty??If it was,I think there were no more a word 'poverty' on the earth...

Abdullrahman, Saudi Arabia
I have already read your article and enjoyed it , and i really watn to be touch with you ,so long

ina , Madagascar
hello Stephen Keeler and welcome back from your challenging journey.It is the first time I write to you and it is really a pleasure.After reading your blog on your trip I just could say "great!!!" and you've got a pretty good opportunuty there.I once have been in Kenya (years before)and could only look at This Mountain from inside the plane, she is completely beautiful I said but then I read about your trip climbing it is a really different matter!Many thanks to BBC and you to give us this rare opportunity to get in touch with virtual proffessors like you.My kind regards for Lucy, I bet she must be very proud of you!after my first reading of your blog , I already learned a lot, thanks indeed!PS:poverty in the third world is really abig big issue , for sure!bye

ayyaz mahmood Multan pakistan
hello dear stephon i m the studentof (B.A Goint Hons in english literature and linguistics) it was my first experience to read ur column. i found it much intrested. i bevieve that i can get more from this method of learnging.try to write down this type of column. may u success in all walk of ur life.

Sathien,Thailand
Hi Pro. Stephen...I am a new Student. I study by myself. My name is Sathien Chuelee from Thailand. Best

Ania, Poland, Warsaw
How good that you come back in a good condition. I frankly admire you and all people who climbed with you but I am somewhat against this kind of trips. I think about people from Tanzania at this moment. Would you like doing any similar project again?

soraya from Algeria
I really understand all your feellings because i had lived this marvelous trip 18 years ago and I hope that the swahilies are always frendly and very nice with all people caming to visit their contry!the wordl should take these populations as an example! so poor they are but give all they can to ake u feel happy!

Wisarut-Khonkaen , Thailand
How is going ? Since November 2006 to January 2007 when I would like to posing blogs on BBC site appear to be hilarious hobby and to be peak lots of informations .Every entry in each day have many advantages story in term of words expression , slang words ,or even gramma that can be use in order to saying something with my virtual friends in a couple of time . Right now I will get in touch with you for posing comments. I always wish you may give a range of new entry whenever my friends and I access the Internet so that we could improve us English skill much more . Interestingly , first column dealing with mount Kilimanjaru look so splendid adventure story . Do you have a good trip? I presume that you may enjoy with this trip .Because I see the photos that you show on webboard. It is so cool !!! Cheers . << NB. Please draw attention to insert a part of speech when you give new vocabularies >>

Anar, Moscow
Hi Stephen. I'm glad that you came back and again we can read your interesting and funny articles.I hope you will continue your blog on bbc.com. I have interested what do you think about to go to climb Mount Everest?:), is it would be too complicated task? but believe me i think person like you can do that.:)Good luck to you in your life and work.

Srisaila Patil, Bangalore, India
Stephen, I would like to tell you all about my experience as a schoolboy who went on learning English on his own. Most of you may find it interesting and inpiring. I was born in a village inhabited by a population of around 1500. The village can serve as a good example of the Third World poverty which you have recently witnessed. The present-day India has come a long way, however. I'll go ahead with my story if all of you give me your OK.

Srisaila Patil, Bangalore, India
Hello Stephen,My name is Srisaila Patil. I come from a village in South India and I've been working in Bangalore. I've made BBC Learning English my online school for English.Before reading your column, I'd a vague idea that mountaineering was for tough guys. You've proved it to me now. Yours is a memorable experience, which must have left you with a never-say-die attitude.Also, you've taught us a good bit of English. You've done well both as a teacher and a climber. Keep up the good work! I look forward to learning more from you.Srisaila Patil

Anbika Giri, Nepal
I've just started to learn english. My tounge is very difficult. I found your writing little bit hard for me but its quite interesting. It means I will keep reading.Do you have some useful tips to get improved soonest? I canot join class, dont have any english friend. Dont have sound system, just have newspapers and book.

Luna, Russia, Krasnoyarsk
Stephen, hi from Luna again. Sorry the first message was not really finished. Just in case you’ve no idea who I am, perhaps I should explain that in January I was one of your readers and even posted a few comments (but as Olga from Krasnoyarsk, Russia). Actually my first real name is Luna, but I am sort of shy of it because I do not want it to be confused and to have some negative connotations with the word ‘lunatic’… (please-please tell me that it has nothing to do with that!) God! Only once a fortnight! It’s too little. Guys from BBC should realize that. - Dear Sir/Madam/To whom it may concern, please look at the audience that Mr Keehler has gathered and ask him to write more often. Thank you for your understanding. Stephen, I am proud of you, I really am. You asked about our opinions on the Third World poverty that shook you in Tanzania and Kenya. Stephen, trips like you have made cannot do harm. However, they do not physically bring visible and immediate results, as I think. They are doing PR, drawing attention to the problem and also, which is maybe more important, create the necessary image of Great Britain and BBC that is targeted. Don’t you think so? Luna

Luna, Russia, Krasnoyarsk
Stephen, hi, It is so good you are back. I missed you very much. Welcome back. So you did it. And you got home back to Lucy. I am stuck for words to express my feelings...It's as if my own Dad got home and he got back as a hero. Sorry for being too sentimental.

Laura, Florence, Italy
Dear Stephen,I'm Laura, an Italian beginner student 56 old and I'm sorry for my bad English. But your exciting article moved me, reminding me of climbing I made on the Alps in times past. I remember mental and physical fatigue, but also the starry sky, the wonderful landscapes, and above all that, the peace of mind. Obviously during my trips I never faced the poverty you saw in Africa. I imagine I would have been shaken like you, and also embarrassed (my well being in comparison with their extreme poverty!!) by this experience. I think it isn't unethical doing this kind of thing: tourism can be a good source of profit for Africa; moreover I think that the fine places of the world are common human heritage, and they should be usable. But for our common future we need to improve sustainable development and food security. Thank you very much for telling your fascinating experience to us and improving my English.

Olyha, Ukraine
Dear Stephen, So good to hear from you again! So good to have you back!!! Although I found your wonderful blogs just a few weeks ago, I really missed you a lot! I have to say I was very excited to see your new column! First, I'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge "thank you" to the BBC for making such a good choice inviting you to write. I'm absolutely amazed by your skils as a teacher and feel priviliged to be able to get to know you. I find your blogs very useful and you does sound like a wonderful person from them. I hope you don't think that I'm just flattering you. I don't even know what statement to use to make you realize the seriousness of my point.Well, you just have to believe that. This might put a smile in your face. Can you beieve that I've printed all your blogs and now am reading them daily?!. I make a note of the words and expressions which I've not seen before while reading. Of course I also try to find the meaning of each new word and learn it. I think over almost every sentence and a situation where I could use it. Well, I feel a little ashamed to say that I'm still cathing up with your old letters while you are already posting new ones. Oh, how I wish I was a quick learner! I greatly enjoy reading your blogs and have already learnt a lot. I enjoy the great spirit of your writting and want to thank you for sharing your life with us. Thanks to your wonderful blogs and great photographs I've got a much clearer idea about life in London. And I'm happy to say that my English has improved much since I started working on your blogs. Wouldn't it be good to meet you one day? I wonder how easy it would be for me to understand your spoken Engish. I know, it would be nearly impossible to meet you spontaneously in a big city such as London, though. Perhaps, it's never going to happen. But I can dream... Anyway, would you mind continuing to post your very "fresh" (recent) photos, so it would help me to recognize you in case if my dream come true! :) Though, If I ever get the chance to go to London I know that my English will be easily understood, thanks to you! Once again, I want to thank you for everything you do to help me to improve my English! With very best wishes, Olyha

Iryna, Ukraine
HI, Stephen! Welcome back! I really miss your writing and now I would look forward to your next column!With best wishes to you and Lucy!

Bob McCunn, mostly England
Hi Stephen. Just to show I've been here, like Kilroy. Boy do you look slender over breakfast.See you soon.Bob

Adriana, Brazil
Hi Stephen. From the moment I saw this comment box in your column, I immediately thought how could I fit my comment here, but now I see I was wrong. Stephen, I hv written another comment...I'm afraid I can't repeat all it again. Basically, I was expressing my happiness to see you with us again. The opposites...? I'm not feeling confident to answer about them. I'm looking forward to see your next entry. Good night.

Jailton, Brazil
i liked very much your adventure at kilimanjaro , congratulations

Hyoshil, Lincoln
How wonderful to hear from you again!! I am sure your first letter would be fabulous and enjoyable to read, as usual.I haven't read your blog yet because we(me and my son) just came back home from Northampton.As soon as I got home I turned the computer and I saw your face.It is a bit late but I really want to say "hello" to you.I am very happy for you that you finished the trip successfully and came back home safely.Welcome back class and your virtual students!! I am really looking forward to your blogs.p.s:would give Lucy my best regards on behalf of me?

Julio, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Hello Stephen, it was great to see you again and thanks for sharing your adventure to Mount Kilimanjaro. Congratulations, really it was the most difficult achievement of your life and the most exciting too. I felt this when I read "...for the almost traumatic final ascent." "It was not straightforward" but you reached there. Cheers to Stephen and his co-climbers. This kind of trip helps the region and the tourism helps the people of Third World a lot. Best wishes, Julio.

Koorosh, Iran
Hello Stephen, I want to say that i'm really proud that i know you it is my greatest ambition that bbc learning english introduce you to all us

Monica, Brazil
Hi my dearest blog teacher!!! How nice to hear from you and know that you are back safe and sound. Although you did not mention my name ( sniff,sniff sniff) you still have your place in my virtual heart. I loved reading the description of your great adventure!! You gave me a vivid sensation of what it was like to face this challenge!! And like you I love challenges, I love testing my limits!!! Once, 3 years ago, I decided to pay a tribute to my brother, who had died of lung cancer a year before.My sister and I went to Rio to take part in the half marathon. Imagine, me, who had never run before facing 21 kms. But that was exactly what I did and it was simply great!! Like you, I had it all, the highest high, the lowest low and despite it all did not regret my deed. The beauty of the track, the energy and enthusiam of the other runners and my faith that my brother's energy was around gave me the stamina I needed to complete the marathon with a nice running time. So reading I had a sense of deja vu. What will be your next adventure? Because people like us have got the adventure bug. I want to thank you and BBC for the great opportunity you give to me to improve my English. Love,Monica

Surendra, USA
Hi, I find your article very nice. Please keep us posted with other interesting articles in the future too. Good Luck to you.

Maria de Jesus Silva Freitas
I need to find the phonetic alphabet. I want to listen to it. What can I do?

BBC Learning English replies:
Hi Maria,
You can listen to the phonemic alphabet in our Pronunciation Tips section

Mauro, Italy
Hi Professor Stephen, you are wonderful. Your English is perfect for those like me that have so many things to learn. Your tellings make me feel homesick of those places I' ve seen myself and of those I' ve not as well.

Paulraj, India
Hi Stephen,Congrats. It?s wonderful to know that you have come back with great achievement. Actually I was looking for BBC learning English web site from last month onwards about your appearance. I feel happy to see your photos today with much excitement.In fact I have shown some of your Dec-Jan blog to my 12 year old daughter and your plan of climbing mountain. She asked me twice whether that man has come back. She asked me why he climbed like this. Now I can tell her about your successful adventurous trip.Now I ask you the same question my daughter asked me. Why did you make this trip? How did you get this idea to make trip like this? Who was behind this great trip? How do you feel now after achieving your ambition?I will make comment about your trip tomorrow. Till then bye.

Linda, Taipei, Taiwan
hello.Stephen.i'm glad that you come back safe and sound.my name is linda.though.i never show up.but i read all your articles on bbc learning english blog.knowing you have a trip to kilimanjaro.reminds me the Ernest Hemingway's The snows of kilimanjaro.before reading this column i thinkwhen you reach the mountain top.the whole beauty scenery beneath your feet.i imaging that you may just like the King lion in the jungle but now i realized your trip no so easy.nothing lose nothing gain.right?besides you achieved your goal. we students all benefit from your journey by reading your excellent articles.thanks very much.Lucy can sleep well now.like father like daughter/son.you deserves lucy's wonderful'Welcome home breakfast.i missing you very much thati checking your column every day.found out your back to BBC.i cannot resist but write you.i tried hard to let you know what i am saying .if any wrong. fogive me for bad english: Sincerery waiting for your next column.best wishs. linda.

Mandalika, Norwich
Many congratulations Stephen on your successful trip to Kenya, Tanzania and mount Kilimanjaro. We have missed you all these days. I kept on looking for your column on BBC site.We are pleased to get you back after more than two months. When I read your blogs I was in India. I worked in England for a long time. This time I came to England with my husband who is here on a temporary assignment. I was born and brought up in India. Since my childhood I look at the poor people and feel bad. I live in India with a sense of guilt. Because I can go to a good restaurent, I can travel in air conditioned car, I can buy any food, any cloth I want, but many people do not have food to eat, people suffering from diseases, people working in extremly hot summer days. I cannot turn around from the fact that many people in India do not have access to pure drinking water, though Indian economy is one of the fastest growing economy in the world. If one has money everything is available in India. There are lot of rich people. I always wish that India gains some kind of balance. Over a period of time I have reached to a conclusion that a significant part of this poverty is due to corruption, insensitivity towards poor people, political issues, lack of discipline and proper social system. The poor people are very helpless as not many people consider them as human being. You will find lot of beggers in India. But is it their fault? Isn't it the society that are producing the thieves and beggers? What do you think? I shall be very happy if you can throw some light on how some balance can be achieved. Else if you can tell me how we can get peace of mind while seeing starved children, diseased people everyday? Most of the Indians will say I look at the bad side of the society. But how can you avoid them when 70% of the people live below poverty line? You are right. Sometimes it makes life worse to be around so many poor people. But if you live in such a place I feel you will get used to it. Or you may try to do something for them. But doing something in India is not so easy, remember that. I have experienced that if you help people they start taking advantage. So what is the solution of this? Hope I have not hurt anone. Have a good day.

Cristiane, Sao Paulo, Brazil
Hi Stephen,I am a new student at BBC and I am really enthusiastic about learning and improving English here, getting contact with you and everybody. What amazing experience you've lived in this journey! After I read your text, I am feeling ready to face some challenges in my own life and, I have to be honest with you, I am a little jealous! I would like to be there too! See you, best wishes!

Ly Truc, Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City
Hi Stephen,This is the first time I met you. I like all things you shared with us. during period your trip. All the best for you! Take care!

Mikheil, Georgia (not US), Batumi
the story was really very interesting , Thank you.

Pary, Iran
Hi Stepahn ! How are you ?ALl of past monthes readers really miss you . we coundn't stand for hearing of you and your adventure news .So at the moment i wish you the best . waiting for your next article they are greate! bye

Mahsa, Iran
HI. I visit your blog for the first time. I write from Iran and I want to develope my english. I hope you help me. tanks a lot

RamleeWahab-Batu Pahat, Johore, West Malaysia
Hello!Welcome home Stephen. I'm glad you've made home in one pieces(aha!just joking) and probably still surrounded by the Kalimanjro's lucid dreams. As usual, back to the desk, running your fingers on the computer and sips your hot coffee, keeping your warm and calm...for your ultimate return to the website with more stories and verities of vacabularies. I'm waiting for your next column....regards to your wife, bye!

Jayashankar, Bangalore, India
Hi Stephen, This is the first time coming across this and found very interesting and useful. Great job, Keep it up. All the best

C. Sundarapandian, Chennai, India
Hi Stephen, it is very interesting to view your column. Your adventure with Kilimanjaro is wonderful. i am writing to respond you that POVERTY, unemployment are common in third world countries. UN and developed countries should act in emergent manner to resolve it by sending essential items such as food medicine etc.,to third world countries. Apart from that each and every person should work to resolve this issue. I am eager to see your next column. Best Wishes.

Hitesh, Delhi, India
Hello Mr. Stephen...I am a new Student. I introduce myself. My name is Hitesh Gaur from India. Welcome back. It doesn't matter that you had not your laptop with, you have shared everything with us about your wonderful tour.Wish you all the best.

Renata, Romania
Hi! Welcome back wizard of words!I'm so glad you are back here with us. Of course, we missed you a lot.:)Thank you for this first column. I'm looking forward to reading all you do for us. Best wishes to you and Lucy.

Massa, Japan
Jumbo! Nice to talk to you, Steven. Bet the wonder and pleasure you got through the trekking was worth your effort of climbing up and up. I enjoyed your story very much. Thanks for sharing your excitement with us all. My response to your questions "Does this kind of trip help or make things worse, in your opinion? Do you have ideas or suggestions about so-called Third World poverty?" is as follows. Worldwide tourism can help people understand different cultures and ease this problem financially too, only if tourists use locally financed businesses, hotels, restaurants or services. I'm looking forward to your next message in two weeks.

Lokman
Hi Stephen, I am Lokmn from Turkey. I met you today. I want to develop my English. what should I do. I am waiting for your help. thanks...

melissa;China
Wow,i am jealous about your amazing trip.I am a person who is very fond of outdoor activities,specifically,i have sporting blood run over my body.What a big fun to read your column,and i would like to hear more about your trips in East Africa.Anyway,i do hope you won't public these answers to the comprehensive questions immediately .Before you and your co-climbers decided to conquer the Kilimanjaro,you should think of holding a news conference or something like that in order to make funds for the poor kids of the third world poverty,which i think would really help them a lot.

Zsuzsanna Fodor, Hungary
Hi Stephen,It was a surprise to 'see' you again. Even if it was on my monitor! You made it! Completed the great challenge you had planned. Congratulations! Funniest thing that I recognized you and your article while I was planning a webquest for my students as a trainee teacher in Hungary. Best wishes, Suzie

Catherine Chapman. BBC Learning English ;-)
A couple of conditional sentences that aren't mentioned in the answer key:

Now, just in case you've been dutifully reading all this but really have no idea what I've been talking about perhaps I should explain that I have been in Kenya and Tanzania for a couple of weeks. If you go to 'student blog' and 'teacher blog' and then click on 'archive' you can select December 06 and January 07 and read our blogs where you'll find some references to my plans to visit East Africa.

The ones he has highlighted are THIRD conditionals. Most of them are only part of the 3rd conditional... not the whole structure.Just so you know...

Katy, Iran
Dear Stephen;Jumbo!Welcome Back! Of course we missed you as much as you mised us , maybe even more.I regularly checked the site for the column you had promised before leaving for Kilimanjaro. Now it's great to have you back. And really WoW! What a wonderful experience you had there. Your explanation of the adventourous journey was all fabulous. I'm so happy to hear that Lucy is fine and has done great to keep your beautiful tastefully decorated home all perfect. You must have enjoyed the special breakfast prepared by her soooo much.And then the afterwards rest has definitely been one of the most rejuvinating sleeps you have ever had. And now we are eagerly waiting to read your exciting blogs. All the best to you.

Antonio (Spaniard), Belgium
Jambo Stephen,I really missed you.Can you imagine that I came, by chance, to this site, BBC Learning English, only a couple of weeks ago and I am already missing you ?I have been studying English for years, starting, stopping, restarting again and finally I found something that seemed to me very interesting.Before starting writing any comment I wanted to be a little bit in the “ambiance”, atmosphere, move; …, so I have printed all the blogs since January till now and I have started reading your exchanges with Soyoung. I try to read at least two of yours blogs every day. It has become a kind of ritual. Before going to bed, I go to the attic, where I have fitted a nice place to read, study, draw etc. and I take something to drink and the listings of yours blogs.Two days ago I was wondering if I would ever know how you managed in Kilimanjaro. What a surprise when this morning I saw your column.Thanks for your texts, your explanations and for being so nice.AntonioP.S. I am going to print December too !!

Kanchumarthi,India
it's very good.I have study the your al letter.i am very poor in spoken english,soon i am going to Nz,pls give me good reply for improve my spoken english,Thanking you sir,Yours sincerly.Kanchumarthi

Abhishek, Poona, India
Hi Stephen! without any preface, its a really exciting column with a lot of learning material. But I wonder if it would be possible to add some communicative material( for listening)?

Luciana, Brazil
Ho Stephen, I´m glad you´re back! It seems that you´ve experienced an unique adventure!You must be very brave to meet this challenge and climb the mountain without giving up before the end.I´m looking forward to reading your next column!

Katya, Moscow
Dear Stephen!I was so-o-o pleased to find you on this site again!And to find you healthy,too,as far as I can judge from your photos :))Really,I'm so proud of you,you did a great thing,the one you can think of and tell of your grandchildren someday :)And thank you for your column,it's so rich in material to study!And guess what?Sometimes,doing my 'normal' things I was thinking of you,about your dangerous trip!I'd like to tell you about a challenge I had a month ago.I'm a violinist,and play in the symphonic orchestra.I have been 'sitting' there for almost 5 years.It is a sad thing about orchestral musicians that when you play,the same theme,with a group of musicians(not solo,I mean) you become used to do this,and get scarry when you have to play solo. And suddenly,our conductor asked me to play solo with our orchestra in one of our concerts in Moscow Philarmony Hall!It was quite a challenge for me,to play in front of all my colleauges,listening to me (not to mention people who came to our concert),but I did it!Of course,I couldn't be torn to pieces by tiger,or couldn't fall and break my neck,but,believe me,the sensations are very common(I know this,because my husband likes to climb mountains and everything high enogh,e.g. towers,fortresses,etc.,and he sometimes takes me with him.And I,unfortunately,have always been afraid of altitude :))But there is one more thing:while I was playing,I felt a great pleasure,too!In such moments you feel that you live a real life,that you're doing something important,breath-taking,fragile and of this even more exciting,don't you?Bye for now,I am already looking for your next column.Best wishes,Katya

Najla, Yemen
Hello…I think that both of the contractions in the third sentence are equivalent to (I would.I am not sure about “all in the wrong place”, but I think that they are present in an amazing place where people (usually) don’t appreciate? I really don’t know.The opposite of ascent is descent.“I'd have written about my co-climbers, about the Tanzanian guides and porters who got us there and back more or less safely,” is the first sentence of the second paragraph. Now the words that suggest that there were some minor accidents are: Tanzanian guides, and more or less safely, I THINK!I think that the word ‘normal’ in the fourth paragraph is written between single inverted commas to indicate, rather to emphasis, the normality of their (people’s) doings at least compared to the amazing (not normal) things experienced by you! I like to try! :P

Gabriel, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
That's sounds great man!!!This trip was really amazing!!! Why did'nt you stay there for more two weeks? If I was you, I should have done it. But, come back to home is pretty godd, isn't it?then, what's your next event? Could you explain about to us man?

Najla, Yemen
Hello Stephan, hope you are doing fine. I really missed your great blogs. I have learned a lot from them. It was great, thanks a million. I am so happy about this column of yours. I am sure I will learn more and more with your brillian style, beautiful expressions and new nice words and ideas. Thank you...

Marianna, Slovakia, Bojnice
Welcome teacher! Where is the fat Stephen from January on the Day 1 foto? The only thing I wasn`t able imagine was you jogging in that really fashionable Hampton court park!I will need two weeks to read and understand everything properly. Lying two weeks in February in bed with slightly palsy hand I could do nothing but learn English from your letters. Your column came in time to make me work harder again. After this desease I probably won`t visit London and surely not Tanzania. There are scientists, adventurous people, experiences travelers as BBC documentary-makers who allow me to travel and see any place where something interesting to see is. A couple of years ago I painted big (relatively) picture with herd of zebras and some compozitions with tropical butterflies despite seing them only seconds on my TV screen. Last week I solved at last the problem how to bring on the picture a flock of that tall pink gracious birds with long red legs and black beaks, the idea I am obssesed by years. This is maybe not the comment you wanted to read but I really loved to hear about Lucy again and that relieving last sentence your sister climbed with you. Nice regards for all of you!

Leila, Oulu, Finland
Hi Stephen, it was truly interesting to hear about your trip Kenya and Tanzania. As you and I have not met before (I am a new student), may I introduce myself; I am Leila from Northern Finland. It is a pleasure to meet you.Many, many years ago I had a friend from Kenya and just a word Kilimanjaro is so beautiful. You asked us to post comments about a special challenge we have come encountered. Mine happened a few years ago in Egypt, when I was snorkeling for the first time in my life. We went out to the place called Ras Mohamed, the sea was fierce and the water very salty. We just jumped over board and started to swim. Looking back now I can say that I am very happy I did it, although at the time I was freaking out. Ras Mohamed is a superb!

Ana Freites, Republica Argentina, Pcia de Buenos A
HI Stephen!!!!I´m climber, in this moment i´m training for to climb the Aconcagua with my father. This moutain is wonderfull and i´d lioke to be there in the next year. Best wishes !!!!

Carla, Milan, Italy
Hi Professor Keeler,what a wonderful surprise finding your column!Yes I miss you and your blog a lot, but now I'm going to plung in your long script.A great welcome back.Wishing you and Lucy all the best.Carla

Diema, Bulgaria
Hello, Stephen!I definitly missed you and regularly was checking for your column.I nobly envy you about everything have seen and felt.Seems great and unforgettable.Good experience!!!Congratulations!

Ana Paula, Brazil
Hi Stephen! Welcome back! Of course we missed you, and I´m very glad to hear from you again!

Best wishes, Ana Paula.