Last week I decided to feed my class of hungry 22 kiddos, I decided to cook for the entire class, making my own dishes, Czech food, made from scratch. I came home on Wednesday and I thought since I am going to be at different school next year, I might not be able to see these kids any more. I wanted them to remember me in a special way. So I started cooking. It was 4 pm. I made Apple Strudel (my gandma's recipe!!!), Sheghed Goulash, Hungarian Goulash, Fried Pork Chops, Home made (again my family recipe) Potato Salad, Cucumber salad (Tzazikki-Greek Style), and Cookies. I finished at 1 am. Totally exhausted, but thrilled and anxious. I could not wait to see my kids' faces. I did tell them I was going to make some sort of surprise, but no specifics.
The next day I set up the table, got ready all utencils...and I greeted my kids. I told them about each food, what it contained, where it was from, they were fascinated, they loved the smell, they could not wait to try some. So I started feeding hungry kids, realizing in many cases it is the only good food they are going to have that day...they were hungry, they ate it all asking for more, I was lucky to be able to give out the second round. I stood upon those pots, praying like Jesus that day when they needed fish and bread to feed hungry, and indeed, amazingly all kids were fed pretty well. I looked at their happy fourth-grade faces, licking off last drops and eating last crumbs. I was extremelly happy. I felt so good. I never regreted hours spent in the kitchen and money used for my little project. They loved it and thanked for it. I saw their happy faces and this is the way I am going to remember my class of 2007. There is not a greater feeling than doing something for others. Now I have 22 thank you cards stuck on my door in my house, and a good feeling inside of me. I made their day, I made that day special, I made them smile and be happy, even just for a while. And that is what counts.
