You Know You're an Alaska Interpreter When...

Two CareVacations Sign Language Interpreters returned from their recent assignment on an Alaska cruise and wanted to share a little insight on exactly what it means to be an ASL Interpreter in Alaska! 

Lindsey K. Doin' What She Does Best... in Alaska, Of Course!

You Know You Are an Alaska Cruise Interpreter When…

1. While interpreting an excursion you get peed on by Alaskan sled dogs. 
2. You interpret in a room at -46 degrees that is attempting to simulate Iditarod racing conditions. 
3. While interpreting on the sun deck you find yourself in multiple layers of clothing, including a rain poncho and the gloves and scarf you just purchased from the on-board shopping center. 
4. You could give a lecture on the formation of glaciers in your sleep, and in fact you do to your bunk-mate/team interpreter in the middle of the night. 
5. You can sign ‘LOOK WHALE’ faster than any interpreter on the planet. 
6. Words like Tlingit and Haida become part of your everyday vocabulary. (Pronounced Cling-It and Hide-A) 
7. You suddenly find yourself becoming very excited over the whale tale, totem pole, and moose charms your clients have collected for free at every port. 
8. You are an expert at interpreting any and all Sarah Palin jokes. “You Betcha!” 
9. Free coffee has never been more appreciated. Between [in]terp[ret]ing turns, the warm coffee is necessary to keep the fast fingers from freezing

And finally... 

10. You start to wonder just how many more film cases of gold flakes you’ll need to pan for to be able to pay for your own Alaska vacation.

THANK YOU, LINDSEY & JAMEE!

About CareVacations: Serving the cruise industry for more than 20 years, CareVacations is the leading provider of mobility scooters, wheelchairs, Oxygen, and other special needs equipment for cruise passengers with disabilities and aging travelers. Working hand in hand with all major cruise lines and disability experts, and partnering closely with the travel agent community since 1988, CareVacations name is synonymous with trust, reliability, and quality. Our team is comprised of the best and most knowledgeable experts from their respective cruise industry-related fields, and combined with our longevity and reputation for excellence, CareVacations has helped enable thousands of cruisers experience their dreams of travel and adventure come true. Our services are available in cruise ports around the world and our customer service representatives are available to assist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. 

Want to learn more? You can follow CareVacations on Twitter and Facebook.

A Sign of a True Professional

Lisa visits Antigua on one of her many cruises

Lisa loves to cruise, there's no doubt about that! I think it's safe to say, Lisa might just be one of those interpreters who could spend week after week on a cruise ship, visiting exotic destinations. But alas, Lisa's talents are also needed back at home in Jacksonville, where she works as an Equal Employment Access (EEA) Specialist in the Jacksonville Human Rights Commission (HRC). She also works as a freelance interpreter in her "spare time" in college classes, at a variety of stage shows, and helping Deaf individuals make phone calls.

Like many of the interpreters I meet, Lisa seemed to accidentally fall in to this profession. During her previous career, Lisa had a client who was Deaf. Wanting to make sure she could communicate with her client, Lisa began taking sign language classes offered by a local church. Lisa also had a co-worker whose wife was also Deaf, and after forming a fast friendship, they began encouraged Lisa to pursue her interest while helping her signing skills.

“Back then I was signing at every chance I had. I even signed when I read my boys bedtime stories, even though they didn’t like that too much,” Lisa said.

When Lisa's offices closed in 1996, she decided to take her career in a different direction, went back to school to earn her degree in signing and went on earn her state and national certifications in American Sign Language. Now, Lisa works with several agencies, local colleges helping hearing impaired students take classes, and a video relay service (VRS) agent. 

Between her mainland work and her work on cruises, it's obvious Lisa's a busy lady. One might be left to wonder how she has time for anything else. What I can tell you is Lisa might just be one of the most active people I know.

From zip lining through the jungles, riding horses on the beach, if Lisa can find the adventure, you can bet she's first in line. But the quieter side of Lisa also just wants a good book, sitting by the water, with good food, and a killer sunset. Of all the places Lisa has traveled, still her favorite place is her hometown of Hollywood Beach, Florida.

Lisa's list of must haves? Family, friends, food, and fun... what more could anyone ask for? Lisa describes her perfect day like this:

"I would gather my immediate family make sure they are all there; my sons could bring their girlfriends, my mom and sisters and their families, and we would play and eat the whole day away. Some outdoor games like Frisbee, then rest up indoors with some silly, fun, playfully competitive board games. My older sister, the best cook in the world, would have to whip up a feast like a Mexican buffet including desserts, and we would eat & laugh the day away."

That sounds pretty good to me, Lisa. Pretty darn good. 

I've enjoyed working with Lisa tremendously over the past several years, and I look forward to many more. 

THANK YOU, LISA! CareVacations appreciates you!!!!!

Remember the Days When...?

When I read Nicole’s bio that was the first cliché I thought of… Remember the days when… interpreters didn’t get paid for working cruises? That’s just how long Nicole’s been working in the cruise industry. WOWZA!

Nicole’s inspiration for becoming an interpreter came after meeting a brother and sister who were Deaf and deciding she wanted to know how to communicate with them. Through self teaching and help from her new friends, and encouragement from her manager, Nicole decided that becoming an interpreter was her calling, and so began her journey. After graduating from college in Minnesota with her AAS in sign language, Nicole made her move to warmer weather in Texas, the place she now calls home with her two Chihuahuas, Lexi & Lola.

For the past 10 years, Nicole has found herself working as a full time freelance interpreter in a variety of settings… college course work, medical, private business, concerts, and festivals, and more… which is what she says she loves most about her job. “I love most all settings. I really love my work and it challenges me every day!” But in addition to all that, Nicole still likes to find time to cruise. Her cruise work has afforded her the opportunities to travel all over the world, including Italy, Spain, France, Greece, the Ukraine, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, Alaska, Mexico, and the Caribbean. “St. Lucia and Barbados are my favorites,” she says. “There always are people rushing to the Caribbean and [to this day] I still get excited to work [those itineraries]!”

Besides the travel, what Nicole really enjoys about cruises is the variety of people she gets to meet. “I love working cruises [since] I get the opportunity to meet so many great people from across the world, cruisers, ship staff and [other] interpreters.”

While interpreting is certainly a passion for Nicole, there’s another side to this die-hard Vikings fan. Besides cheering on her favorite football team, Nicole enjoys spending time with her friends and family, especially her nieces and nephews. She’s also a history buff, which makes traveling all the more interesting. Music, movies, and comedy entertain Nicole and her friends when they are out an about, and speaking of music… Nicole plays the clarinet and hopes to play in the community orchestra! Her musical inspiration? Michael Jackson! Well, not quite. But she did tell me a funny story that involved her childhood Michal Jackson poster… you’ll have to ask her! ;-)

What I find particularly refreshing about Nicole is her connection to other, not just in her work but in her personal life; she has a genuine appreciation for others. When I asked her if she could spend 24 hours with anyone, anywhere, Nicole said she’d like to spend that time with her late uncle Thomas, cruising through the Arizona desert is his beloved jeep, maybe with a scoop of ice cream, all while she soaks up his stories and wisdom.    

It’s clear to anyone why Nicole is so loved amongst her friends and family and why she’s so highly regarded in her profession. When I need a little advice, Nicole is one of a select group of people I know I can count on for her professionalism and skill. Her smile is infectious, her wit is unmatched, and her charisma is authentic. Not to mention, she always makes me laugh. If you ever have the good fortune of meeting Nicole, I have no doubt she will have the same affect on you. 

THANK YOU, NICOLE! CareVacations appreciates all you do!

Signing Her Way Across the High Seas…

When I was introduced to Pilar a couple of years ago, I knew right away she was going to add a tremendous amount of personality and passion to CareVacations' sign language interpreter program. After her first assignment with CareVacations, Pilar became a permanent fixture on our roster and continues to work our cruise assignments on a regular basis.

Pilar resides in California, but after getting to know her, I have no doubt her heart is with the sea. When I asked Pilar how many cruises she's taken, she couldn't even remember! "Is that sad?", she asked after responding. Not at all, Pilar!

In addition to cruising, Pilar does some freelance work in a variety of settings, although she did indicate to me, she would love nothing more than to just interpret for cruises. Sounds like someone who loves the high seas to me! If it's true what they say about a picture saying a thousand words, I think Pilar's picture says it all!

Pilar has been interpreting professionally for over a decade after accidentally falling in to the career. As a college student, Pilar found herself interpreting for a fellow student during times when the official interpreter was delayed or absent. After inquiring about the importance of punctuality and attendance of an interpreter, Pilar was offered the opportunity to get certified in her skills as a sign language interpreter and become a paid interpreter for students.

Interpreting cruises gives Pilar profound gratification in being able to help facilitate making a complete stranger's travel dream come true and is an easy for for this adventurous interpreter; her passion for exploration and love of laughter and fun makes her a perfect candidate for this work.

In addition to cruising, Pilar's interests include anything that embodies cultural diversity; she loves to travel, read, dance, and she loves live music. Pilar is especially passionate about the theater... another reason why she makes a great addition to any cruise.

I asked Pilar to describe what her perfect 24 hours would be like and she painted this picture for me: "I like life with a bit of spontaneity, and I would make sure to have the following: the best cup of coffee, the finest, freshest salad, daylight of leisure with a novel upon a sailboat, and an evening of wine, music, and friends."

How would I describe Pilar in just one word? I wouldn't... it's just not possible. So I will take the liberty of using several words: PASSIONATE, DEDICATED, SPIRITED, PROFESSIONAL, LIVELY, CONFIDENT, DELIGHTFUL, ADVENTUROUS... and on, and on.

So CHEERS to Pilar and all that she brings to CareVacations' program and all that she adds to the experiences of the countless passengers who have had the privilege and honor of having her as their interpreter!

Thanks, Pilar, for everything you do!

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A Deaf Man Walked in to a Bar...

No, this isn't the start of a joke, but it was the start to Melanie M.'s interpreting career. As a bartender in southern Illinois, Melanie realized her calling as a sign language interpreter when a customer came in to her bar, signing with a companion. Using the little sign language she knew, Melanie asked the customer what he wanted to drink. After seeing the overjoyed look on her customer’s face for her ability to communicate with him, Melanie knew what she wanted to do, and she had to do it quick! Thanks to her ability to communicate with sign language, and no doubt a little promotion by the signing customer, Melanie’s bar was flooded with Deaf and hard of hearing customers on the nights she worked!

As a child, Melanie recalls seeing her mother sign with relatives; over time, Melanie and her sister learned some of the basics of signing from their mother. She tells the story, “My mom says she taught me sign language because it was a different language, and it was her way of exposing me to different experiences. I think she taught me sign language so she could “yell” at me while she played piano from the church stage when my sister and I were causing mischief in the pews!”

A single mother of two, Mason (5) and Laiken (3), Melanie knows a thing or two about teaching kids to sign. Her son Mason is a great signer and loves to sign secrets to her. When Melanie signs to her daughter, Laiken likes to respond with, “Mommy, I can’t hear you!” Sounds a little bit like a young Melanie sitting in the church pews! ;-)

Now in her ninth year as an interpreter, Melanie currently works as a Video Interpreter and is also a freelance interpreter. Before moving to North Carolina in 2009, Melanie established her own business in Chicago, signing for theatrical performances. Theatrical interpretation is Melanie’s true passion, which makes her a great fit for interpreting on cruises. The wide range of skills required to interpret on a cruise are a perfect fit for Melanie’s tremendous talent and skill set, and she really enjoys meeting the cruise staffs and passengers.

Working with Melanie has been a pleasure for me and CareVacations is very lucky to have her as a part of our team.

THANK YOU, MELANIE, FOR ALL THAT YOU DO!!!

Someone has Sent Me a Sign

You have all been patiently waiting since my last blog post, and I thank you.

Needless to say, after I finished posting about how busy CareVacations has been with our interpreter program, things seemingly exploded, and I've been working my toosh off, booking interpreters on 13... yes, that's ONE-THREE, more sailings for 2010! WHEW... it's kept my busy, and I had to push back my interpreter bios just a bit. Was my last post a SIGN of things to come? YOU BE'CHA!

Now that I'm nearly caught up, today is the day that I start to introduce all my incredible interpreters to the world!

Check out my next blog post for your first introduction!

It's a Sign of the Times

I've been working in the cruise industry my entire adult life... nearly 16 years now... and I think it's safe to say, I don't ever remember the industry being as exciting and progressive as it is today.

When I started working with CareVacations a number of years ago, I was asked to develop a program that would be offered to our cruise line partners for sign language interpreter services for Deaf cruise passengers. What seemed like a daunting task at the time turned out to be one of the best learning experiences of my life.

I've always said, I'm not an interpreter, and I don't pretend to have the knowledge of an interpreter. But now, well... I'm still not an interpreter, but I know a whole lot more about the trade, and I've met some of the most amazing and incredible people along the way.

So for the past few days I've spent some time reviewing all the interpreter assignments CareVacations has had the honor and privilege of fulfilling for our cruise line partners and cruise passengers who are Deaf. In 2007, CareVacations serviced 21 individual sailings, 3 Alaskan cruise tours, and two sales meetings; we worked with 42 interpreters, and excitedly began scheduling our 2008 assignments. WOW! What an amazing 2007! Oh, wait... we still had 2008 to look forward to!

In 2008, CareVacations fulfilled 29 sailings, 6 Alaskan cruise tours, we worked with 56 interpreters, and three of the cruise assignments were weddings! These were such special experiences and privileges for everyone involved.

And finally, in 2009, CareVacations fulfilled 37 sailings! Our interpreters worked cruise tours, they worked weddings, they worked with kids, they worked with service dogs, they celebrated holidays on board... they did it all... and it was AWESOME!

Now 2010 is here, we're booking our interpreters out like crazy; we've already scheduled 13 sailings including a wedding and a large group to the South Pacific!

It's been a great ride... it's only getting better, and CareVacations wants to thank everyone for making it happen. Thanks to our cruise line partners, thanks to the passengers, and a special BIG THANK YOU to all our awesome interpreters! It's the interpreters who make the difference!

Why am I telling this story? Because it demonstrates commitment and the evolution of the granting access to cruises for people who are Deaf. The cruise lines have made the commitment to accommodating the needs of Deaf passengers, the interpreters are committed to the quality of life on board, and CareVacations is committed to facilitating the possibilities.

If you're someone who needs an interpreter for your cruise, or you know someone who needs an interpreter, call your cruise line for their specific policies. You can also call us to learn more about where our interpreters will be and how we can help you.

Stay tuned to our blog and watch for our weekly interpreter profile highlights. Get to know CareVacations and get to know the interpreters we love!

Happy Weekend, Y'all!