International Kitchen with FSJ 5th - 9th May

Wanna have a taste of various cultures and a wide range of international cuisine? Come and have an experience with us in Allerheiligen...

For this reason, 13 young people from the area of Hildesheim-Hanover (North Germany) came to us for a week of discovering the richness in culture and food from many different nations.

They are doing the FSJ programme with Caritas Hildesheim and have their 4th Seminar week which they can choose from a range of different activities. This group of people chose to learn more about various cultures and food...

Together with Katja (from Hildesheim) and Mark (my boss), we led the week filled with action, adventure, fun + lots running in our heads especially with the organisation of the various events happening simultaneously.

We had a day on Malaysia where Derek & Edgar presented some facts on Malaysia while Grace helped in preparing a meal - Honey Garlic Pork mmmmm with mixed vegetables and rice.

The FSJ kitchen team was busy preparing the meal and joting down the recipe which they hope some day, they will be able to prepare on their own... They started the morning having fried noodles for breakfast...

While a team was busy in the kitchen preparing the meal, another team was decorating the dining room. We celebrated "Chinese New Year" again... as how one would celebrate in Malaysia.

There were 20 others from the FSJ who were in Allerheiligen at the same time, doing another programme on communcations. Mmmm yummy... everything ready to be enjoyed.

The following day, we presented Mexico, starting with burittos for breakfast. Patricia Papenkordt gave a presentation on Mexico and eventually cooked a Mexican dish with the FSJ kitchen team. No photos - I was busy coordinating the day. Too nervous giving announcements in German... We had a nice meal - Tortillas with beans and chicken in mild chili sauce. Simply irresistable!

On that afternoon, we celebrated the Eucharist together with the community. All of them stayed for the whole mass although not many are (practising) Catholics. That evening, they had "An evening with ICPE" where some of us from the community shared our conversion stories. Many of them were moved by the stories and the songs led by the Next Generation band - the youth of our community! (Still no photos; still nervous...)

Malta! Stefan & Pat led the team to prepare baked rice, a Maltese dish after Fr Joe & Mark gave a presentation on Malta. They had fun in the kitchen with Stefan's endless entertainment!

They also prepared Hobz b-sietz; that's bread with olive oil + olives + capers. Yummy!! Let's have a food tasting session before it's served, says Sophie!

Preparation for the International Night

The idea of the week came from this event that we celebrate as a mission on every school. I had the idea of introducing this to the German youth to give them a taste of the richness of various cultures while sharing Jesus with them. Everyone in the community contributed a dish or 2. Some of us had some extra helping hand from the FSJ...wrapping spring rolls, for example.

The FSJ youth prepared a 3 course meal from Niedersachsen, the state where they come from. Tobi & Florian had a chance to bake a cake for the first time in their lives!! It was delicious!!! And they were very proud of themselves!!!

The evening started with a grand buffet of about 16 dishes from 10 different countries. We had a presentation from some countries and ended the evening with the presentation of the state, Niedersachsen.

The other FSJ group doing the communications seminar with Krzysztof presented a few pieces of what they learned over the week.

It was a very nice evening indeed. We ended the evening with dessert from 5 different countries. It was a non-stop eating session. (No photos, for the same reason - too nervous and busy coordinating the evening...)

We thank God for the nice weather this whole week and the nice people whom we had a chance to work with. Hoping that the seed of faith and love is planted in these young people during their time with us!