Bermuda Sun - November 3 2006

I'll work more at home now
B. Candace Ray
INTERVIEW/Denzel Amos
I'll work more at home nowSandys Secondary Middle School M3 student, Denzel Amos celebrated his 13th birthday, October 25th, aboard the STV Spirit of Bermuda. Afterwards, he familiarized himself with the identified major parts of a ship, considered how each corresponds to his life and filled in the associated blank.

"The rudder relates to the family, which steers them as a young adolescent," educator-on-board and part-time Spice Valley Middle School phys-ed teacher Darrin Lewis explained.

The boys were to probe their inner selves for personal understanding, so because he is always with her, Denzel's 'aunt' was attached to the mast.Journal writing was a daily follow-up exercise. A question relating to corals - part of the M3 science curriculum - resulted from the morning's (Wednesday's) snorkeling with J.P. Skinner of BIOS. Other writing activities diverted the edginess of weather-confined sailors.

As part of the mainmast watch, Denzel helped put up the biggest sail - a struggle when the mainsheet got caught in something.

"I've never really sailed for a whole week before," he said, "and today (Thursday) we're going off Bermuda, so it's going to be very exciting."The hope-to-be veterinarian enjoyed the voyage and said the experience would help him be more responsible.

"Because at home I don't do this much work," he said. "Now I am."He suggested that future sailors: "Be cautious because you're going to get seasick. Bring a lot of clothes…because some people lost a lot of clothes."A big plastic bag of mysteriously 'lost' clothing appeared on the dock post-voyage.