The lean-to tarp shelter makes use of a ridge-line.  This ridge-line is created by tying a length of rope tightly between two trees or other points of support.  This will create a point that you can secure your tarp to and finish your shelter.  Find two trees that are as far apart as your tarp is long. Tie one end of the rope around the trunk of a tree.  Tie it at the height that you want the top of your shelter to be at. Tie the other end of the rope at the same level on the opposite tree. It's very important that the ridge-line is as tight as it can be. The lean-to tarp shelter requires you to fix one edge of your tarp to your ridge-line.  You can attach the tarp to the ridge-line using cord or rope and many tarps will come with grommets or loops built in.  Make sure you attach the tarp to the ridge-line tightly to build a strong tarp shelter.  Your tarp may have holes pre-made along its edge.  If so, you can thread the ridge-line through these for an easy way to join them together. Many tarps will have loops along the corners or edges that can be used to tie them to your ridge-line. Once the top edge has been tied to the ridge-line, you can secure the bottom edge of the lean-to tarp shelter.  Pull the bottom edge away from the center until it is at an angle that you want.  Place anchoring stakes in the ground at the corners of the tarp and tie the tarp to them.  This will hold the bottom portion of your shelter securely in place.  Most people recommend using a 45 degree angle for their lean-to. Try adjusting the angle to raise or lower the height of the shelter's "ceiling".
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One-sentence summary -- Find a good spot for the cord. Fix one edge of the tarp to the cord. Anchor the tarp to the ground.


In some cultures, pointing with an index finger, giving the “ok” sign, and other common gestures can be seen as offensive. Since you may not know which gestures could be mistaken in this way, stick to “open-handed” gestures. For instance, try using your whole hand if you need to point to something. Keep your feet on the floor, sit up straight, don’t use your arms too expressively, and otherwise keep your posture more or less conservative. This is because certain postures can be seen as offensive to others. For instance, showing your foot in some cultures is seen as a rude gesture, so you would not want to cross your legs in a way that your sole sticks out. If it becomes clear that a less formal posture is acceptable, you can follow suit. Some cultures may expect more physical contact between people when communicating than other cultures do. For example, some cultures may shake or touch hands more willingly than others.  Don’t take it as offensive if another culture is more or less physical than you are used to when communicating. The exception is if you think you are being violated or abused. If you are uncomfortable, let others know. It’s a good rule of thumb to be conservative with the way you touch people from other cultures when communicating with them. However, if they appear to use more physical contact, follow suit if you are comfortable doing so. In some cultures, looking another person in the eye when you speak is seen as a sign of honesty and interest. In other cultures, however, it may be seen as disrespectful, confrontational, or a sign of sexual interest. Conversely, some cultures think than not looking a superior person in the eye when communicating is a sign of respect. It is common for different cultures to use facial expressions differently. For instance, Americans may smile frequently, while other cultures may see excessive smiling as a sign of shallowness. When communicating with people from other cultures, you may notice that they are more expressive with their face (to show happiness, sadness, frustration, etc.) than you are used to, or you may notice that they do not show much expression at all. Much communication is non-verbal, no matter what the culture. However, you can focus on the content of what is being said, and ask questions to clarify if you need to. For instance, if someone reacts to something you say with an unexpected smile or laughter, you may need to say “Actually, I'm being I’m serious.” Some cultures may require more personal space than others. If you are communicating with people from another culture and you find they get closer to you or farther away from you than you are used to, it’s not necessarily the case that they are invading your space or trying to avoid you. Just try to follow their cues regarding personal space and communicate as best you can.
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One-sentence summary --
Use “open-handed” gestures. Assume a formal posture at first. Understand rules regarding touching. Know how to make or avoid eye contact. Expect different facial expressions. Respect the amount of personal space the situation requires.