Food Party at New York English Academy May 10, 2023

For the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, New York English Academy recently hosted an international food party! For this event, students, teachers and faculty came together for an afternoon of food and fun.  Starting at 11 am, Friday students began arranging their dishes in the break room. Since we had such an abundant spread, the neighboring classroom was converted into a dessert buffet! The food shared was delicious and diverse, with options like Indian samosas, Italian ravioli, beef and cheese empanadas, and yuca fries. Desserts were just as exciting. Students had brought Tango, a snack cake from Peru, and baklava, a flaky pastry common in Turkish, Iranian and Arab cuisines. We had a fair share of American staples as well, such as New York pizza and cupcakes. Food parties are not only delicious fun, but also a great way to learn about other countries and cultures. Students were excited to share their home country’s food just as their classmates were excited to try it and learn more. A benefit of studying with classmates from around the world is using English as a common language. This way, students get more conversation practice and strengthen their skills and confidence. The expression “Teamwork makes the dream work” was especially true when it came to cleaning up. Everyone did their part to make sure no trash was left in the break room and no food had to be thrown away! Students and teachers instead took home leftovers from around the world. NYEA’s first party of 2023 was a great success and we cannot wait to make it a tradition.