~ Hi to all from Captain Dean ~

Welcome to our Summer 2007 Newsletter

Captain Dean

Captain Dean Rand

Spring was cold and windy here at 60 degrees north latitude this year. That unusually bitter weather, during March and April, meant that we had to work especially hard to get the Discovery ready for the upcoming busy travel season. It seems that, even in the best of weather, there’s never enough time when preparing for a summer of full time travel on the Sound, and the Spring Discovery Voyages Newsletter became a casualty of that particularly busy season.

Additionally, we've been redesigning our web site and will let you know when it becomes live for public viewing. Meanwhile, we welcome your comments and suggestions regarding aspects of Discovery Voyages web site that you liked, disliked, found helpful, or think might make a good addition.

We recently received an e-mail from past passenger Deane Manolis, who traveled on board with his family in 2006. Deane’s article, which was written for his local maritime organization, turned out to be a wonderful account of their vacation here in PWS, we (and Deane Manolis) would like to share it with you all.

On the Family Front

Heather Rand

Heather

Heather just turned 18 and returned to Alaska from her ten month stay in Japan, where she spent her junior year of high school. Besides becoming fluent in Japanese, my little “grown-up-in-podunk-Alaska" onboard a boat with her little sister and weird dad” daughter also won the Japanese Annual National Haiku contest!

Laying in the grass
Just to watch the sky
Another fading dream

Because she arrived in Japan halfway through the Japanese school year, she found herself in the middle of the writing class. She was instructed to create a haiku on her first day. Months later, her Japanese writing teacher told her to write down what inspired her to compose this poem – what were her original thoughts? Apparently much to Heather's surprise, she was a finalist in the Haiku competition. One month later, her writing teacher proudly presented her with national recognition as one of the 20 annual winners (and the only one with blue eyes!).

Hannah Rand

Hannah

Hannah spent the bulk of the summer at Interlochen Art camp in Michigan. Although Interlochen is known for it's exceptional music program and Hannah is an accomplished harpist and pianist, Hannah chose screenplay writing as her summer course. (Ah , rebellious teenagers) This was Hannah's first time away from home for an extended period with other teenage girls of similar interests. Needless to say, she had the time of her life. Also, her screenplay (written on her first week of the 6 week program) was chosen for production. The students recorded the play but I've yet to view it, since both Hannah and Heather have been off the Discovery preparing for college courses which start right away at the end of August.

It's interesting to note that our University of Alaska professors are open to having a high school senior (Heather) enrolled in their classes but not open to having a 14 year old high school sophomore (Hannah) enrolled, who, also happens to be presently studying at a college level. Since I'm stuck out in the Sound on the Discovery until September 10th., I guess that I'll have plenty of time to compose a "toned down version" of that letter of persuasion--addressed to the State's Commissioner of Education, Roger Sampson, who happens to be our school's former superintendent [Alaska is such a "small town"]--which is brewing in my head. As any of you who know me can imagine, I'm pretty en passioned about quality education for all children. I refuse to let some university professor exclude a qualified and competent student from class, for reasons which appear to be nothing more than age related. Geeze ..., maybe I should have Hannah edit and tone down that letter before hitting the send button. hahh!

Good energy and much love to all

~ Captain Dean