Column-Logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad
Thursday, September 2nd, 2010

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Each week in her column-logbook for the Algemeen Dagblad Laura Dekker will relate her journey around the world aboard her sailboat Guppy on her attempt to become the world's youngest circumnavigator.
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'Cheating is not much fun if you are allowed to'


I never imagined that my life here would be so different. Back home in Zeeland [The Netherlands] I would get up at 6 AM to take my dog Spot for a walk, then I would go for a twelve kilometres bike ride to my school [7,5 land miles], that it rains or snows makes no difference. Now I wake up at about 8 AM - staying in bed longer is impossible it would simply be too hot with 48° C inside the cabin - and I immediately start on my schoolwork. I have a timetable to follow that was given me by the Wereldschool. Every day I have to do four subjects. I have written explanations with me that I normally would have from a teacher. The schoolwork is just the same: I have two subjects of choice and I have to do practical manipulations in science and biology. I have all the necessary material with me, the test tubes and all. Lucky for me that I have already done the sheep's heart dissection last year at school. Via the internet I can ask questions to the teachers but up to now it was not necessary. In Maths I am already ahead of schedule. Next week I have to do my first tests. I have a CD-rom with all the tests on it. I could use my books during the tests but cheating is not much fun if you are allowed to. It is weird that I used to stay in school until 4 PM but now I can finish my given subjects within two hours. After that I usually go for a walk in the harbour. Already I have met many people here and I have been out sailing a few times with the kids from the local sailing school. Otherwise I usually have cleaned my boat by midday and I stay in the shadow to read a book. In the evening I do the cooking and have supper, then I take a shower and keep up my website and also I call my family. My father I can talk face to face nowadays. That is because he is here with me to fix a problem with my rudder. It is nice to see him but it also feels a little strange. First I had to get used to being just by myself and now I have to get used to my father being here with me again.

Recuerdos!, Laura