By Nina Wang
Last Saturday, June 28, families joined us for Wrap & Roll: Family Edition!
Food, family, and fun. When brainstorming Wrap & Roll, these were the three elements that we kept in mind. Being a family-bonding event, Wrap & Roll Family Edition was created with the goal of bringing loved ones together, engaging in a hands-on activity that also incorporates an introduction to Taiwanese culture and cuisine. In this workshop, families wrapped and enjoyed dumplings together, with guidance from a Taiwanese grandma. The shared laughter, excitement, and fragrance of the freshly cooked dumplings filled the room, creating an atmosphere deeply rooted in community and connection.
At first, we weren’t exactly sure where we were going with this dumpling-wrapping event. Initially structured as a cooking class, it seemed too identical to other events that The Center already offered. As we dove deeper into this topic, we recognized that dumpling-wrapping has historically and currently been a cherished family tradition in many Asian households, embodying togetherness, cultural preservation, and celebration.
With this new direction in mind, we began centering Wrap & Roll around family-bonding. We hoped that Wrap & Roll could be an outlet for deeper familial connections, strengthening the bond between family members.
Organizing and hosting Wrap & Roll was certainly an enriching and educational experience. Although I had some prior experience in helping to facilitate large-scale events, it was my first time given full independence, and accordingly, full responsibility for an event. Hosting a large event such as this requires careful planning, coordination, and clear communication. Leading Wrap & Roll pushed me to be more organized, detail-oriented, and equipped me with the necessary skills to adeptly respond to unexpected situations.
Whether it was scrutinizing every minute detail of logistics, scrambling around to ensure all participants had what they needed, or spending ages designing the perfect poster, planning this event certainly made me realize I still had a lot to learn. However, in the end, after Wrap & Roll was a grand success, I became more confident in my ability to structure and coordinate events.
Witnessing all attendees having a great time, fully immersed in the dumpling-wrapping experience and connecting with their loved ones filled me with a sense of accomplishment. I was extremely elated that our workshop truly fulfilled our goals: to bring families together while enjoying a fun, hands-on activity. In the future, I hope that I have the opportunity to host more workshops of this type, encouraging community and connection, and overall producing memorable experiences for everyone involved.
Nina Wang
Hi, my name is Nina and I’m currently interning at the Center! Currently, I’m exploring various interests both in and out of school and am looking to gain more hands-on experience to acquire valuable skills and insights. Some things I enjoy in my free time include baking, dancing, and spending time with my family and friends.
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