Day 8: School Day & Cruzan Rum Distillery
May 7, 2015 - Today we had breakfast at 7:00. We packed lunches and prepared for the day. Today Kate, Michael, Ogechi, and I went to John H. Woodson School to work with Nurse Wyatt conducting scoliosis screenings. Kathleen when to Sea View Home Care for home health care visits. Melinda, Kristie, and Liz went to Alexander Henderson School (where Ogechi & I were yesterday) to teach puberty to the 5th graders. Afterwards, we went straight to the Cruzan Rum Distillery to perform an occupational health assessment during the tour. Cruzan Rum produces 6.3 million barrels of rum annually, with each barrel containing 55 gallons.
After this we went back to Arawak to get ready for the kayak ride through the bioluminescent bay right by where we are staying. The kayak ride started at 7pm-ish. Melinda was my kayak partner and we did great. The tour guides were two blonde kids, seriously. One was still in high school. What an amazing after-school job!
This kayak ride was one of the most amazing things I have ever seen in my entire life. In a nutshell, the bioluminescent bay is created by dinoflagellates that produce a bioluminescent protein as a self-defense mechanism. I would describe this as liquid stars; a scene from Fern Gully; something from a Disney movie. It was so extraordinary. When you disturb the dinoflagellates, they produce the light. So if dipping your hand in the water quickly and then look at it, there are little twinkly stars on your hand. Words and pictures cannot capture the true beauty of an incredible, natural wonder. I will never forget this experience.
We had cinnamon rolls, french toast, bacon, and turkey bacon with fresh fruit.
At John H. Woodson middle school for scoliosis screenings!
At the school nurse Wyatt’s office
A ton of health information pamphlets for the kids
Team Kate & Ogechi
Team Elysia & Michael
Going into the boys locker room to do the screenings. This locker room was very run down & scary. Very little funding here for schools :(
Harsh poster to battle to high rates of unintended teen pregnancy here in STX
Kicking butt at the scoliosis screening... We are now Woodson Warriors
Kristie & Liz talking to 5th grade girls about good hygiene at Alexander Henderson School
Next stop....Occupational health assessment at the Cruzan Rum distillery
Getting ready to start the tour. Here is an old sugar mill with flags that represent every country to has colonized STX
Tener giving a short lecture on hazards & other elements to look out for during our tour.
Giant vats o' rum
Our tour guide Norman giving us a lesson on the different parts of the rum distilling process. PS this guy seriously reminded me of the Crucian version of my big brother, Tony. It was so funny.
Bubble bubble toil and trouble; Fire burn & rum caldron bubble
The molasses & fermentation process = stinky stinky.
Walking to the warehouses. I love the Cruzan crest.
Rum on rum on rum
You know me... Front & center learning & listening & taking notes... Nerd alert!
Me with the barrels & different types of rums produced
At the end of the tour we got to buy some souvenirs!
Norman making us a shot with Cruzan Rum, not sure what
Group shot!
Kate and I went to ask Norman if he could take a picture with us and then he told me to stand in a spot and Kate stand in a spot and do this with your hands... We were totally confused for a second and then we realized this is what he was doing LOL
We are sign challenged... Bye Norman!
Curry chicken with rice & roti for dinner! OMG.
Peach cobbler for dessert. I think we've all gained weight on this trip...
Time for kayaking!
Kate is ready!
Group shot!
Modeling my USCG approved outfit...
Melinda was my kayak partner. Let's go!
Soooo... unfortunately, there is no way to take a picture of the bioluminescence that turns out with the cameras we had. If you want to Google image search... it will KIND OF give you an idea. It’s not glowing streams of lights...its little individual stars. No pictures can do it justice. It was beautiful & magical & amazing & WOW.
