Outdoor kitchen in Ahun
I’m sure we all have similar experiences where you meet with a group of strangers and in the beginning you’re thinking; who are these people and they really do not seem to be nice… Then after a couple of days, you realize that they are not as bad as you thought they were and then finally you realize they are a wonderful group of people… I think the best example of that was when we went to Thailand 6 years ago; the first night we met with the entire group of 16 people and we went to bed that night thinking we would be having a rather horrible vacation as it was such a terrible group of people only to end up with the best vacation ever and the most fun group of people we had been with in a long while.
In fact; we are still seeing some of those people today…! So what is that?? Why is that? Is it because we tend to stick to the people we know rather then meet new faces? But then; I love meeting new people, so that just doesn’t seem right. But still it sort of happened in a small way the cooking week as well. In the beginning it was a little akward, but very quickly we ended up having a great time with a fun group of people.
Maybe it is also the activity that bonds; cooking together is almost guaranteed a quick way to get to know people. Same as travelling really. I’ve been in situations where a group of strangers felt like people we had known for a long time, after something as little as one day. Ofcourse this all only works if you want it to work. There will always be those people that should not be travelling in a group. For the simple reason that they are anti social and don’t like to spend time with other people (it always baffles me why those people would chose to go on a grouptrip anyway? What are they thinking??)
Free style Gazpacho
While our cooking group last week was made up of quite a variety of people, I do think we all got along quite well and it was sort of sad to have to say goodby after such a relatively short time. But hey we can always go back and cook some more next year!! All in all a fantastic week. So if you want to go and cook in France or be creative in France check out the website Kookstudio Amsterdam.
And I just had to finish with one last photo of Frits… (I wrote his name wrong the first time around… it’s not Fritz.. but Frits…!)
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I love Frits!! And his regal posture!!!
I love to meet new people and yes I am always amazed at the bonds we develope with people, sometimes complete strangers. Yhis outdoor cooing class is just classic!
I enjoy cooking with new people. What a great get together.
Frits is such a beautiful cat!
I don’t think I would like to travel with a large group, because I like to be free to do what I want when I’m on holiday. However, I think I would enjoy cooking with people. I’m actually taking an art class right now (for the first time in my life). At first, I would come home really depressed, because I was intimidated by the group, and by the fact that we had to show our sketches to everyone, and have the class comment them. I am not the kind of person who is comfortable in those situations! But now, after only two weeks, we’re all laughing together, and it’s really fun. I think that with cooking (in which I’m a little more confident than sketching), I’d have an even greater time.
Anyway, I’m glad you enjyed the group cooking experience!
To be honest, I’m nost very good with new ppl =P
I am exactly like that Simone! Always whining about new people only to discover that they are actually quite nice! Frits looks really smug…
I tend to make friends like that, too. Like minded people tend to do the same kinds of things, and then – not so coincidentally, enjoy one another’s company! Thought provoking… now – more about the cooking class, please!!! Great photos!
Valerie
I could see how well you mingle with them just by looking at all your post pictures…. so glad you are enjoying yourself and when you are all charged up, that means there will be great and beautiful posts coming right up for us too…
Sawadee from bangkok,
kris
I could see how well you mingle with them just by looking at all your post pictures…. so glad you are enjoying yourself and when you are all charged up that means there will be great and beautiful posts coming right up for us too…
Sawadee from bangkok,
Kris
Hi Simone! It’s been a long time since the last time I came to visit, but you never disappoint. Your posts are as entertaining, your pictures as beautiful and the food as delicious as always. I promise I’ll be visiting more often, now that I finally seem to be settling down… Have a great week!
This sounds like so much fun! I’d love to do a travel/cooking combo kind of group trip.
That gazpacho looks amazing. LOVE cold soups.
I think there’s always bonding (and fun) in group activities, especially cooking. Perhaps the initial discomfort has to do with the fact that everyone is a stranger and has the same hesitancy about making friends.
Frits is a looker!
Thanks for the website too!
Lovely picture of Frits!
A great way of meeting new people! That gazpacho looks delicious and I love that beautiful ginger kitty!
Cheers,
Rosa
Simone, food blogging has shown me how people can become friends, very good friends, over a common activity. I totally understand where you are coming from! I also think that food and cooking are so passionate and so creative that only certain types of people really are involved in things like food blogging or cooking classes and that is what you discover after being with them for such a short time. I’d love to go away for a long cooking class like this!
Frits is wonderful!
How Pretty are those long stings of pasta! Never made my own, but you make it sound like it is easy ( I know it is not:-) ), but i am at least inspired to try.