Each year, YMCA of the Rockies hires staff from all around the world, and this winter, there are four Spirit participants who have been living and working in Estes Park and experiencing all that Rocky Mountain life has to offer.
According to their website, “To celebrate all of the different and unique cultures and traditions of the staff, the YMCA of the Rockies hosts an International Dinner every year. The International Dinner gives the staff the opportunity to cook a traditional meal and share their traditions from their home country.”
This year, eleven countries were represented at the International Dinner, from China to Brazil. J-1 participants at the YMCA cooked traditional dishes from their home countries and even shared a piece of their culture by performing traditional dances for the attending community members.
In fact, there were over one hundred guests from the Estes Park community who attended this event and got to experience their own “trip around the world.”
The participants enjoyed interacting with the community and sharing the richness of their home countries with Estes Park. Dishes included Colombian Ajiaco soup and Meringues from Chile, and the United States served tapioca pudding!
J-1 Interns at the YMCA ran the International Dinner, acting as the evening’s MCs and using the skills they’ve been learning to host the successful event.
Overall, it was a great night, and we loved seeing both the local and international communities interacting and learning from one another.
Check out more photos below: