St. Joseph’s Home celebrated the Olympics for three weeks! The week before the Olympics began, Residents carried our torch each day from one area in the home to another. It was done very solemnly with other Residents following in line waving flags. The night of the opening ceremony, July 27th, the torch was carried into our auditorium where it stayed for the two week duration of the Olympics. Our final torch barrier, Beverly, was greeted with Residents waving flags. Then they watched the opening ceremony on our large screen TV, and enjoyed refreshments. The highlight of their evening was when our Resident Paula jumped up from her seat and sang God Save the Queen with her Irish accent!
Other Olympic activities included an international cook-off, English tea and muffins, travel to London, and our own Olympic races. Our events culminated in our International Fest. Employees prepared a table with artifacts and tasty treats from their heritage. Countries represented included: Mexico, Philippines, El Salvador, Peru, Poland, Bulgaria, Hungary, Italy, and Norway. The climax of the afternoon was when the Filipinos brought in a roasted pig – head, tail, hoofs, and even an apple in its mouth! Within an hour there was no pork left! A few Residents and employees who weren’t interested in eating “Porky” preferred to eat the candy and desserts from Poland, Hungary, and Bulgaria. The artifacts were also very interesting. There were hand-painted dresses from Mexico, hand-made blouses, and pointed farmer hats from the Philippines, plates and make-up from Bulgaria, trolls, pewter, and rosemaling art from Norway, and pictures of Blessed John Paul II from Poland. We all had a wonderful time together!
Let the games begin!