Day 37: International Potluck Dinner

It was planned that this evening the International Delegates who were still in Lanzhou would have a Potluck Dinner, each preparing a meal popular in their homeland. With semi-limited cooking facilities (one hot-pot and a microwave for the building!) and our food-stuffs limited to that available locally, we put our thinking caps on as to what we would provide. (Andrew made the observation: what’s Kiwi without being barbequed or roasted?) My solution was to make a coleslaw with red cabbage, white cabbage, celery and sultanas, with mayonnaise on the side – all of which was purchased from our local supermarket.

At the designated time, 7pm, people were still cooking. 7.30pm and everyone had arrived, and we asked our guest for the evening, Stephen (usually our host!), to say a prayer. This lead to a round of blessings and thanks in numerous languages, and 8pm we tucked into the food! A great spread of food was prepared, from tomato pasta, beef patties and fried chicken to fruit salad, a sweet green soy bean drink and bananas served in a Mexican yogurt sauce. Yum!

Following the meal we all broke into conversation (and some into song!), before we knew it, it was late!