Shipmate Janina On a Great Adventure

Marina Side San Rafael Yacht Harbor

Our good friend Janina is aboard a U.S Navy Helicopter carrier, the USS IWO JIMA off the coast of Haiti. She is on a 4 month humanitarian mission. I skyped with her this morning. She sent out this message and the following pictures. Hopefully over the next four months she can send out some dispatches which I will readily post. Here's Janina message.

"On July 19, 2010, Keri and I are embarking on a fascinating
humanitarian trip on behalf of “Give a Kid a Backpack” for the
duration of 4 months. We are joining forces with the U.S military on a
special mission called Continuing Promise. Our purpose on this trip is
to distribute 4,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to Costa
Rica (480), Guatemala (520), Guyana (1,500), and Colombia (1,500).

“Continuing Promise is an annual humanitarian civic assistant
operation supported by U.S. and international military medical
personnel, U.S government agencies, regional health ministries,
non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and U.S academic institutions.”
The relationship which is built among theses groups help preserves
peace and stability with Central and South America and the Caribbean
region.

No matter were we live, obtaining an education is very important.
Education is structured to teach us how to read, write, and calculate.
Education challenges a child so that they can be well prepared for
society. In the U.S we are very privilege to be provided with a free
education. In certain parts of the world children are not able to
attend school because most families can not afford the entry fee
and/or school supplies. Also, families tend not to promote education
to their children because they need their child to work.

“Give a Kid a Backpack” helps promote and educate the importance of
education to communities domestically and internationally. One way
Give a Kid a Backpack has promoted itself through Central Florida is
by partnering up with Orange and Lake County Public Schools. The
organization strategically put together a campaign called Clean Out
for Kids which helps collect lots of useful recyclable school
supplies.  Remember it is essential for a
child to have his or her backpack with school supplies because it
helps develop the beginning path to amazing goals."

 

Good Job Janina!

Been A Busy Weekend

Moored Naples Florida
Sunny, 70's, Beautiful Weather

Janina and I had a fantastic time, despite the fact I had to work the nights she stayed. We were undeterred. Janina hooked up with my Friends Mike&Amy while I was working and headed out to Harry's on 3rd. Any open air bar and restaurant with a DJ and proceeded to get down for a boogie. I got off work around 10pm and very uncharacteristic of me, I shifted canvas and met up with the party crowd. Then I got down for a boogie with the good people of Naples. I hadn't danced in a long time, something I love to do. Of course going to bed after 1 am, set me back the next day.

But we decided to head on down to Marco Island, only about 15 miles to the south of Naples. It seemed to be a pretty cool place and different in the sense that it has high rises lining the beach, where Naples has $50 million dollar mansions strung out along the shore line. We didn't spend much time exploring because I kind of petered out. We headed back to Naples so I could nap before work. Mission accomplished.

Yesterday, we lite out mid morning for some vittles at a breakfast joint not far from Christa and stumbled upon the Saturday morning street market. They close off 3rd, and the organic growing crowd comes in with their wares and set up tents and booths. Should be a perfect place for me to get fresh grub for less than the Supermarket.

We followed up a successful morning with a bike ride in the afternoon through the Port Royal section of Naples. Huge mansions line this exclusive neighborhood. It's a great place to take a bike ride with great visuals, easy access to the beach and big ole bike lanes. It was a great visit! So with that I need to roll to work!

Capt Chris