<p>^^^ I truly don’t know. Found myself wondering the same thing.</p>
<p>I would have to agree. That video is awesome! I also wondered who Jack Van Deusen was.</p>
<p>Just heard from our son, his ship passed the Yemeni Island of Jabal al-Tair. This is the island that had the volcanic eruption several weeks ago. He said they passed the island and night and it was still erupting, he described it as awesome.</p>
<p>Got the same message from our son but he’s on the Maersk Carolina with a 2009 cadet so obviously not your son. Home in 3 1/2 days!</p>
<p>Not mine either. 
I’m looking at mine right now AND his crazy mess of a room. I see no organization rules have been learned during 307 sea days…</p>
<p>Enjoy him when he gets home Ballstamom!!</p>
<p>My son is leaving in 11 days for the pineapple run and then he will get another ship after that. I am interested in how things went for everyone that is coming back after their time out. It is a little scary knowing that they are truly on their own now. I guess that I want to hear that everyone’s trip was great with no problems and that they are always like that.</p>
<p>I am trying to let go and hope for the best.</p>
<p>Since I am the OP (origninal poster), and this post has documented my feelings as my son had literally traveled half way around the world the past few months, I am truly speachless. I don’t have the words to describe how proud I am of him. He really is an adult now. He has now travelled without mom or dad, yeah he had someone looking over him a bit, but not someone I knew. </p>
<p>What an accomplishment.</p>
<p>My son may or maynot be home before classes start in Nov, as he is currently on a ship in TX, that is in port, and he is enjoying what he is doing! </p>
<p>He can’t wait to go back to sea!</p>
<p>And I am OK with that.</p>
<p>You always wanted your kids to grow up and be happy, healthy and wise.</p>
<p>he is all three.</p>
<p>The wiseness that these students acquire during their sea time is unspeakable.</p>
<p>I really didn’t understand how that could be possible, until it happens to your kid.</p>
<p>I can’t wait to give my son a hug!</p>
<p>JM,</p>
<p>Did Ian ever get an internship?</p>
<p>You don’t want to hear about LFWB’s</p>
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</p>
<p>Cringe. Its all been so very interesting up to this point <em>cough cough Pentagon cough cough</em>. Will have to get back to you on that one :rolleyes:</p>
<p>Now stop pulling my chain & tell me how LFWB’s adventure has gone (or is still going). <em>cough cough Pentagon cough cough</em> I mean it. Supply the goods <em>cough cough Pentagon cough cough</em> & I won’t tell everyone the top secret stuff. C’mon. Explain in detail too. Which opportunity did he take?</p>
<p>Our son came home Sunday night. Wow, he looks great and has grown up big time. Loved his time at sea and loved working on his ship. His ship delivered food aid to Africa, they moved cargo with there deck booms and cargo nets, a rare and great learning experience. His trip took him to Africa and the Middle East; he defiantly knows how to take care of himself. His stories and photographs are amazing. His Plebe year totally prepared him for this great adventure. He left a young man and returned a mariner.</p>
<p>aww, we can’t wait for our son to do his first sea year & neither can he! It sounds like a totally awesome adventure that few (I’m talking about their college friends here) have the PRIVALAGE of doing. Each night I pray for all mariner’s & those at KP. The whole experience is just SO good!</p>
<p>After a week of some great sea stories on my end, I think the responsibilities a sea year kid has over his college pals are just mind boggling different. I’m also very happy that its over with no one I know running aground or hitting anything. 
</p>
<p>Internships can be extremely interesting as well. Example: I hear through the grapevine that LFWB has had some awesome experiences with his. Involved in a nationwide TOPOFF exercise to see how the Guard responds to a dirty bomb attack simultaneously in Guam; Portland, OR; and Arizona. Also practiced up on writing and editing standard operating procedures and then made Intelligence Officer for NGB HQ where he was giving briefs to Sr. Guard Officers and sleeping on a cot in the “Vault” which is the NGB Command Center. </p>
<p>Having so many options for internships are as exciting as the sea year experiences. Thanks to involvement by those at the Pentagon, new options are on the table for KP kids. Pretty cool stuff. </p>
<p>disclaimer: at no time was I told that I could not repeat things I hear. :)</p>