I woke up from a deep sleep as large refreshing gusts of wind entered the shutters from the North, nudging my sleepy skin. The first thought entering my head as I open my eyes is a resounding “WOWWW” as I blink my eyes open and adjust to the beauty of the room and the sounds that fill it. The solid mahogany canopy bed frames my vision to two shutter straight ahead and past them I remind myself, is a view of the ocean. In fact, I can hear its wild waves ebbing and flowing down below against the sandstone shore.
It’s 5:45am and it’s a big day because it’s my first day of work here in St. Croix. There’s a team meeting at 7:00am down at the Baobob House- about an ¼ mile down the driveway – where I’ll find out what I’ll be doing on my first day of work. Until then, I decide to lounge around in this bed for a few minutes longer. I appreciate this moment to lay here a little while longer, taking in the mere fact that I am here now. It’s all a ton to process. I’m told it takes about a week to settle in here.
A few minutes later, I roll out of bed, eyes and head a bit fuzzy from the travel yesterday. I slide on my sandals and my first call to action I decide, is coffee. I venture up to the Mill for my fix, curious, also, what I’ll fix myself for breakfast. I mosey down the two parallel rows of gravel that make up the driveway, through the gate, and up the hill where I pass delightful plants one after another and a large tree with vibrant orange blossoms. I follow the path around the corner and approach the entrance of the Mill.
The Mill is a most unique infrastructure with a colorful history here on the island. Also owned by Ryan and Corina, it sits atop a hill overlooking the sea, its foothills are sprinkled with rum ruins. “The Mill”, an old windmill, played an integral part in the production of sugar – St. Croix’s first money crop. For more than two hundred years, St. Croix dominated the Caribbean (and its neighboring US Virgin Islands) in sugar production. (Thank you nutrient-rich soil.) St. Croix quickly became known as “The Garden of the West Indies” with 218 sugar plantations by the 19th century and over 100 windmills that made sugar production possible.
Once abandoned, The Mill is now being renovated by the owners, which is why I have come here. I found them and their initiative on a site called Workaway and fell in love with their project. They are restoring an Inn (& the old sugar mill) that was built in the 1760’s. Not to mention, they are including environmental initiatives like solar heated water and compost practices, and an all-vegan menu. They invite Workawayer’s here to help them with restorations in exchange for Room & Board. They even have a kitchen to renovate!
So, the plan for the grounds of The Mill, is to transform it into a private (historic) nightly rental (in an old sugar mill I emphasize) that will be equipped with 6 bedrooms, 7 bathrooms, a full kitchen, living and dining room, and an in-ground pool with a terrace that looks endlessly into the sea. Currently though, The Mill is a temporary home and living quarters for Workawayers, with each room being renovated one by one.
So I finally reach the top of the hill and think “I’m going to have killer calves doing this everyday”. Multiple* times a day I add. Then I realize I’ve forgotten my face mask and have to turn back and do it all over again. For four days, all newbies are asked to wear one in the common areas.
I walk back to retrieve my face mask and decide with time running close to 7am, to get myself together. Of which, I do alongside my bathroom friend, a friendly little gecko sitting atop of the sink. Without my glasses, I thought he was the toothpaste. Whoops. He didn’t seem to mind though. He jumps to the toilet and hangs out with me for the remaining 10 minutes. I say goodbye to the lizard at 6:40am and head for breakfast and coffee. The kitchen is vegan and here I meet Paul from Chicago/Vermont who is fixing himself a morning smoothie.
I realize the coffee is gone and without ample time to make more, Paul helps me find a quick alternative. I happily settle for matcha and almond milk with a splash of agave. My eyes are still fuzzy and I wonder if this will be enough to jolt me to life. I make oatmeal quickly and eat it.
I arrive to the meeting, begrudgingly, 5 minutes late. This is not how I intended to start my day. No one seems to mind though, but I do. I nestle down far enough away from the others for the impending covid standards. Ryan and Corina welcome the newbies who are myself, Cecile and Rasmus, a couple from Denmark. A goodbye is said to two others, Kevin and Laura, who are leaving today after a 3-week-stay.
Immediately, I notice Ryan and Corina have a camaraderie with the team and with each other, which is sweet to witness as they admire and pick on each other amusingly throughout the meeting. I am admirable and curious about their seemingly wonderful and rich lifestyle. And not “rich” in the money sense.
I am curious to learn what owning an Inn on an island entails. As I’m in a transitioning part of my own life, a goal of my travels is to research and gather ideas to what my future could look like. A whole world of possibilities I don’t even know about at this moment of time. It’s a discovery journey.
So I finally get my first assignment which, given Covid precautions, is an exterior painting gig, touching up the overspray from the blue painted shutters. Bella has been doing this job so it’s up to her to show me the ropes. We hike back up to The Mill – trip number three for the day – and I get my orientation, which is quickly followed by a trip to the kitchen where I turn on the coffee pot before returning with paintbrush in hand. Bella shows me how to feather and cut around the trim of the shutters. As I continue, satisfaction fills my veins as I watch the blue turn to white.
An hour in on the job, I leave the painting to Bella and am asked to join the “kitchen design crew” of which, I am now a part of. Turns out, this place needs a new kitchen and I’m chipper to be at the meeting. The meeting consists of Kevin, the architect who is leaving today, Cat, the “beautifier”, and Ryan the awesome owner, and together we more or less brainstorm – voicing ideas, concepts, and opinions over the next hour as I take my first sips of coffee for the day and gather information.
Added to my job description now is “kitchen design crew” which, feels surreal that I am here in St. Croix doing this. Don’t know how, but my 20 months of construction experience has now guided me to a kitchen renovation on an island. At this moment, any homesickness or doubt I was feeling is nowhere to be found.
Before hopping back in with Bella, I dive into calling around to local cabinet makers to familiarize myself with their products, processes, and lead times. Two hours of painting goes by and I do about two windows total. During that time, three workawayers- Laura, Bella, and Miranda are on kitchen duty, preparing lunch for everyone. Tacos on the menu today. I enter with my face mask and everything smells and looks wonderful.
After lunch I head for my room to write and spend some precious alone time, writing, reading, processing that I am here.
During my shower tonight, I realize- I feel happy and that my skin hasn’t been this clear in months.
I’d love to hear more about the history of the island, as you go along. Particularly how the past informs the present, as in an old sugar mill becoming a rental. Neat.