Cooking Up a Team Event

 

How do you pull together a global group from many countries with a team event that:

  • Provides an eternal memory of the event;
  •  Is appropriate for all cultures; religions and holidays;
  •  Is gender-neutral;
  • Is travel-friendly; and
  • Is easy to create?
Oh, and did I mention that I’m planning this event from one city but will actually be hosting it in another city, and the time I have to dream up something fun is non-existent?
 
That was the challenge as I planned for the arrival of a team of people from seven countries!
 
Hmmm…. What would be fun to do with this group? 
 
An ornament exchange? No … they all may not celebrate Christmas
 
An exchange of various souvenirs of each city (magnets, shot glasses or the like)? No, it’s possible these could break when traveling home. Besides, not everyone may remember to bring something.
 
A postcard collection? Nice idea, but would this really create an eternal memory?
 
Aha! A calendar! No, that doesn’t work either. Calendars in various parts of the world are different. 
 
Though this last item got me thinking about a bound booklet that may contain great memories of the trip. Memories that would mean something to each person from the many diverse countries…I think I’ve got it!   
 
What’s the one thing that every person has in common, no matter where we live, where we work, our age or income level – and something that evokes strong remembrances? Food, of course! 
 
No, not actually cooking food. We’re all travelers, after all, and spending our nights in hotel rooms. But how about a cookbook – an international cookbook with recipes from around the globe, with stories about the history of the recipe or a fun fact about the food?
 
Emails were written and sent; recipes and fun stories started flooding in. The beginning of a Round-the-World Recipe Collection was underway!
Now to the printing of the cookbook…
 
No 8.5”x 11” paper for this cookbook! That would be so U.S.! This is an international cookbook for people in countries who do not use our 8.5” x 11” paper size! 
 
FedEx Office® to the rescue! I talked with their staff and detailed out all my requirements. 
 
·         Different paper size? Check! I had them cut standard paper down to a size that was more book-like (7.25” x 10” size), so as not to be U.S. centric
 
·         Travel friendly? Check! Small enough to not weigh down a bag; durable enough to not have the pages crinkled. 
 
·         Easy to create with limited time? Check! Check! Check! After calling a local FedEx Office location at midnight, I went through a few details along with my criteria that I have a finished product by the next day. I uploaded my document and instructions via the FedEx Office® Print Online application and then I went to bed. I received a call the next afternoon when the books were done and voila! Mementos created that will be shared across the globe. 
 
 
 
My global visitors have been seen leafing through their Round-the-World Recipe Collections in the hallways of our event. The colored photos make it easy to see what a food will look like when prepared. And the stories told by the ‘chefs’ add an extra ingredient of fun and team-building.
 
As to my primary desire of creating an eternal memory of this global team event; mission accomplished!
 
Related FedEx Office Solutions: FedEx Office Print Online, Finishing Services
 
 
Blogger Carol Margolis is being compensated by FedEx Office to share her advice on the Out of Office blog. You can learn more about Carol by visiting SmartWomenTravelers.com and PearlsofTravelWisdom.com.
 
 

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Team building events

I really appreciate with what you have written on this blog about cooking team event .

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