‘Around The World’ Signature Experience at The Stratford
Traveling around the world is easy at The Stratford! Located in the Village of WestClay, The Stratford is a premier continuing care retirement community dedicated to providing engaging programming for our Members. Our monthly Signature Experience is a day of themed fun and includes a Wellness class, fine dining, themed activities and exciting décor! The March Signature Experience enlisted the theme, Around The World.
The day began with a class which acquainted our Members with various health and wellness forms practiced around the world. Our Members learned the Hindu spiritual and ascetic discipline of yoga, the Latin American aerobic dancing craze – Zumba and the Chinese martial art defense technique, Tai Chi! Additionally, our Members enjoyed a unique facial exercise class from Japan!
In the late morning, we celebrated the German holiday, Fasching, which is similar to Mardi Gras in Louisiana or Carnival in Brazil! While sampling a variety of European snacks, our Members took part in a painting class where they decorated masks thought to scare away winter demons. Heading to the Far East in the afternoon, Members stopped in Japan where we celebrated the last day of a 3-day holiday called OBon, a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the spirits of one’s ancestors. To embody this tradition, we placed floating lanterns in our pool in honor of our passed loved ones. Additionally, our Members enjoyed socializing and sampling a wide selection of unique snacks from Asia which included bean filled rice jelly cakes, Jack Fruit, and a drink called Grass Jelly Drink.
To finish the day, our Members sat down for an ‘Around The World’ unique dining experience. The dining room was elegantly adorned whisking our Members into far off places with flags, traditional décor, cultural attire. Our Executive Chef and culinary staff prepared a Passport Dinner with cuisines from Mexico (Mole Poblano Pollo, Tres Leches and Churros), Italy (Panzanella Salad, Italian Sausage and Spinach Cannelloni Pasta and Tiramisu), Japan (Yakisoba Shrimp and Saki) and France (Beef Au Poive and an assortment of French wine) ! Throughout the day when our Members attended activites, their passport was stamped and they received special items from each station! At the end of the day, all of our Members returned home from their long travels with bellies full and hearts happy!
The Stratford is Carmel’s premier continuing care retirement community and is nestled in the heart of The Village of WestClay.