Cultural Happenings: Holiday Cookies and Volunteering
Festive treats are a staple of the American holiday season; families gather to bake together, neighbors exchange cookie platters, and Santa looks forward to his annual offering. Wonderfully sugary and crisp, a blank canvas, the sugar cookie offers an opportunity explore creativity and spend time with loved ones. LifeTRAVELED organized two cookie decorating events to share the tasty, fun holiday magic with exchange visitors.
In Orlando, Florida, LifeTRAVELED brought together Summer Work and Travel, Intern, and Trainee exchange visitors representing four countries - India, the Philippines, Peru, and Argentina. Exchange visitors artistically decorated reindeer, stocking, and Santa shaped cookies with colorful icing and festive sprinkles. In the spirit of giving season, the exchange visitors created heartwarming holiday cards to bring joy to hospitalized children.
My happiest moment was a few days ago when we had the Holiday Cultural Event at the Loews Lakewood office. After that, my roommates and I, along with the new friends we made here, went to Eola Park since it was our day off. We spent the afternoon there and rode boats on the lake. - Candela, Summer Work and Travel
The sponsor and I had an activity decorating Christmas cookies and writing letters for kids. It was so nice to do it and at the same time spending time with friends! I met there other girls from Argentina and also from the Philippines. - Diana, Summer Work and Travel
{My happiest moment this month was] when we participate an event for Christmas organized by LifeTraveled because it’s our first time doing that and we feel included. - Kriselle, Intern
December kicked off the Summer Work and Travel season, welcoming exchange visitors from Latin America. Three adventurous LifeTRAVELED exchange visitors selected YMCA of the Rockies - Snow Mountain Ranch in Granby, CO as their winter placement, hoping to learn winter sports and conquer the slopes. Following their arrival, LifeTRAVELED travelled up the snowy mountain to greet the exchange visitors, provide them with an informative orientation, and share this delicious aspect of American holiday culture, sparking a conversation on the cultural differences in holiday celebrations between the US and Argentina.
