Launchpad Updates - May 2025

 (Note: this blogpost was jointly written by the young men in our Launchpad projects, so it's a wonderful glimpse into what is going on in the project from their point of view.  Bonus points for them because they also did the translation into English! 😊)

As the spring fades away, May quietly ushers in the breath of early summer. The sunlight grows more intense, the leaves turn denser, and our lives have also become exceptionally vibrant and colorful this month. 

Birthday Celebrations

At the beginning of May, we welcomed an eagerly anticipated event—a birthday celebration for one of our team members. Though we didn't have  fancy decorations, everyone put their hearts into preparing a small celebration. On the birthday, under soft lighting, the cake was slowly brought out as we sang the birthday song in unison. The birthday boy's face lit up with a shy yet joyful smile. The candlelight reflected our sincere faces, and in that moment, time seemed to slow down. We took turns offering our blessings—some heartwarming, some humorous—filled with laughter and heartfelt moments. Together, we took photos, cut the cake, and shared snacks. Though the ceremony was simple, its meaning was profound. It was not just a birthday celebration, but an expression of friendship, a reflection of the understanding and emotional bonds we've built through our shared experiences.

 Culinary Skills

Besides celebrating birthdays, there has been much other learning in our daily lives. We set a new goal for ourselves this month: each person tries to cook a new dish. Some chose “Cola Chicken Wings”, while others chose “Stir-Fried Pork with Green Peppers”, etc.

Learning new dishes is not only about mastering a recipe, but also an exercise in hands-on skills, independent thinking, and patience. It's essential to make a list in advance when preparing ingredients. During the cooking process, proper timing and heat control require careful attention. 

After the finished dish is served, everyone takes a turn to taste, score, and give fair feedback. Every successful attempt is an affirmation of oneself, and even if some steps aren't executed perfectly, we’re all bold in trying new things and aren't afraid of failure. This sense of continuous progress makes us enjoy every bit of effort put into the kitchen even more.

Making "Zongzi"

As the Dragon Boat Festival approached, we have also participated in the traditional "Making Zongzi" activity. (Zongzi are a special sticky rice dumpling wrapped in bamboo leaves that are eaten during Dragon Boat Festival.)

Early that morning, the table was arranged with cleaned bamboo leaves, soaked glutinous rice, and prepared red dates neatly. We gathered around the table, listening to the teacher explain the essentials of making zongzi: how to fold the leaves, how to fill them with rice and stuffing, and how to tie them securely in neat triangular bundles without coming loose.

For some of us, this was an entirely new skill. At first, we often didn’t make them tightly enough, or the zongzi would fall apart when boiled, but no one was discouraged. We helped each other, exchanged experiences, and gradually mastered the technique. The process of making Zongzi became not just a manual task—it turned into an exercise in communication and cooperation. After finishing, we looked at the table full of our creations, some oddly shaped but uniquely crafted Zongzi, and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.

The aroma of the boiled zongzi filled the air as we sat together, enjoying our handmade meal and reminiscing about the process of making them earlier that day. In that moment, the air seemed to carry not just the fragrance of zongzi, but also the warmth of home and the festival we celebrated together.

Dumpling Making Party

At the end of May, we organized another “dumpling-making” activity at home. While this activity may seem simple, it truly demonstrates our teamwork and coordination. We had clear divisions of labor—some rolled out the dough while others focused on wrapping the dumplings. Throughout the process, everyone helped each other and worked together together.

Unlike the "craftsmanship" of Zongzi, dumplings emphasize more on a sense of rhythm. While everyone's hands are busy wrapping, their hearts remain engaged in communication and cooperation. Some wrap at a fast pace, some create beautifully shaped dumplings, and some even invent special styles like "mini versions" or "double-folded edges, etc." There were many humorous moments and exclamations of delight! The moment the dumplings are dropped into the boiling pot, steam billows from the pot, as if lifting our laughter into the warm, bustling essence of life.  
When the steaming hot dumplings are served, everyone quiets down to savor them earnestly. Each dumpling on the plate carries not just the aroma of its ingredients but also the joy of our collective effort and shared experience.  

May is warm, steadfastly, and colorful. Throughout this month, we celebrated together, learned together, worked with our hands together, and turned simple days into flavorful memories. These experiences may seem mundane, yet they shine brightly in our memories.