wow, it's been a while, hasn't it?

I suppose I should start by saying I'm doing awesome! the program took a bit of a different turn than I expected, but I was told I did great! maybe an intensive course where you had to sign a stack of papers wasn't the best idea for an inexperienced kid...regardless, I've learned a lot, and I know that's what you sent me here for in the first place.

I suppose I should start off with start-up. it started out like any other camp: planet Tegami had rather strange customs. maybe that's just because it's pretty much one giant camp/school for the adventurous student, or maybe I'm just being judgmental, how should I know? anyways, they started us off like kindergarten: introductions, a couple introduction-type games, a whole thing where we budded up with someone and became best friends; my partner was Sheila, it seemed like it would be a fun camp.

then things took a sharp left turn...or up, I suppose. after about a month of learning survival skills, being physically tested, and learning strategy, I was pulled aside and took a test. I got a perfect score. that meant the camp had done what it was meant to do: prepare me for the thing I didn't even know would happen...I was going to be launched to the pikmin planet.

I was told I'd be with 4 others, but none of them have returned. Sarah was swept down a river and hasn't found her way back up it, Clyde stormed off a week in and never returned, and Carlos just kinda...vanished. I didn't see him leave, but he was at camp one moment and the next; nothing. so, I'm alone...but I wasn't always.

during training, we were taught how to avoid getting eaten. we all thought it was fun and games, but they were preparing us for the real thing. we learned how to throw each other with just enough power to get each other up ledges, but not too far into them, we learned how to roll out of the way just in time to avoid getting hit by a boulder, and we learned how to throw punches that did as much damage as possible...and, finally, we learned everything about the pikmin planet.

did you know that there are 9 known types of pikmin, but it's theorized there are more? or that onions really do have limited carrying capacities, but that no one's found how much? or that a fully grown queen bulbax on Terria is actually the size of a grub, while on the pikmin planet they're the size of trees? I fount that REALLY cool! but, of course, we WERE sent to the planet. it started off fine: we set up camp, looked for food and water, and thrived for a few days while we waited for a signal.

but, when the signal finally came, we found out we needed pikmin: the one thing we couldn't get. we searched for days, dodging bulborbs, dweevils, and even a stray wollywog. man, that was terrifying! but, one by one, everyone split up...I hope they're all ok...

how'd we split up? well...Sarah went first: an expedition gone wrong lead to her falling into a river while we were being chased by an army of bulborbs. Clyde blamed it on Carlos, who had accidentally woken up the bulborbs. I tried to shift his focus, but he wasn't having it. after a couple days of fighting, he left. Carlos vanished the next day without a trace, and suddenly I was alone...

anyways, that's why I haven't written to you, texted you, or been home in a year. I finally got communications up and running, and I'm working on getting the ship I crashed here in up and running ASAP. I've ran out of space, so I'll tell you more about it if I hear back from you!

I can't wait to return home!
Samantha