Food Glorious food at WYD!!

WORLD YOUTH DAY SERIES.

WORLD YOUTH DAY CROSS: 

Food Glorious food at WYD!!

Scripture tells us that ' No one lives on bread alone...'. Forgive the cherry picking of scripture to start my post- but I wish to enlighten you about a practical consideration for WYD- food.

Depending on what country you are from, many of the packages with the travel agents include the option of all-inclusive meals.( or most at least). 

So, the first thing to ask yourself before booking your WYD pilgrimage is 

·                     What is my expectation of the food?

 If you are expecting the food to be home cooked meals, then you will be miserably disappointed and may even feel cheated that you did not get value for money.

If, however you know before you leave your country to go to WYD that the inclusive meals are simple, healthy and basic-eg can of tuna, roll if there are enough, small piece of cake and piece of fruit for lunch for example, then you will not be disappointed.  

More importantly, if you prepare yourself spiritually for this aspect, then you can be engaging in a mini lent or a week of penance.  It is a matter of attitude and how you prepare for it that either makes or breaks your mind and spirit.

When you arrive in Madrid, you will be given a WYD pack.  In that pack will contain your food vouchers which will be swapped for the food at the appropriate time.  Usually the group leader will gather the vouchers and then collect the food from the drop off point allocated.  If you are a forgetful type, you will need to make sure that you place your vouchers for the day in an easy assessable spot for you. Otherwise you will miss out

The other aspect of the food vouchers is that you learn to be social in your group- sharing what you have with other pilgrims from your group.  This in itself is a beautiful experience if it is lined up with an inner spirituality.

The other alternative is to buy your own meals.  At the moment, whilst you are in your own country- this seems simple enough.  The reality of WYD is very different. Why am I saying this? 

1.            There are the millions of pilgrims expected at WYD.

2.            Shops are not always close to the venues.

3.            Some group leaders prefer the group to stay together so going off for food is not an option at a time when you might be hungry.

4.            Language skills may prevent you from being able to order the food you wish or other people getting served first, as was my experience in Rome since I spoke no Italian. 

5.            Cost of food can be expensive especially if you have saved every penny to get to WYD and/or have been sponsored but do not have extra spending money.

So when you consider joining your group, you need to know what the group rules are and how this may affect your choice of whether to buy your own food or choose what is provided for WYD.

From a personal perspective, I chose to eat the WYD food provided, so that I could fully enter into the WYD experience.  I prepared physically, emotionally and spiritually.  I have to say that in Sydney WYD-my home country, on the night that the Pope arrived, we went out to celebrate and had a restaurant meal. Food never tasted so good.!!!!  This meal became special in its own right because it  was the celebration of the Holy Father arriving in our own country.  Madrid pilgrims may experience the same feeling of excitement. The meal also replenished our beings to help us continue with the WYD experience. I highly recommend this possibility of having one meal out during WYD- you are supporting the locals as well as replenishing yourself on many levels. 

My WYD challenge for this week is to prepare a simple and basic meal plan and eat it for a week. Prepare yourself spiritually- make it a mini Lent.  At the end of the week, see how you feel. For example: Are you able to eat basic food for a week- the same every day? Are you able to be grateful that you have food to eat?

One other reminder:  Remember too to pack a small bible with you to WYD- since 

'Man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God'.