Work Out with Jason, Eat with Conrad: A Perfectly Balanced Day!
Editor’s note: This blog was written by Liesl, a high school sophomore who spent several days visiting residents at Prairie City Landing.
Chef Conrad regularly visits with residents, developing relationships that extend beyond mealtime.
In late June, I spent several days at Prairie City Landing, talking to residents, helping out, and enjoying the community. During my time there, one thing that really stood out to me was the close relationships team members and residents share. It didn’t feel like a place where people came in to work. Team members consistently went beyond any requirements or outlined processes to foster relationships because they truly care. Two people who really stood out to me were Conrad Caguimbal, the Head Chef, and Jason Cherry, the Fitness Director.
Chef Conrad Steps Out of the Kitchen
One evening my mother and I were wandering around the dining room, visiting with residents, when I saw Chef Conrad leave the kitchen. Due to his position as Head Chef, I was confused at first—shouldn’t he be back in the kitchen cooking? I watched as he approached some residents dining around a table. They conversed for a bit, and then Conrad went on to another group. As he continued to make his way around the dining room, my curiosity grew.
Finally, I approached a group Chef had just spoken with. The residents told me that Chef Conrad often comes out to talk to them about their meals. He asks for feedback, but also uses the time to connect with residents and build relationships. I thought about chefs in typical restaurants—you don’t often see them wandering around trying to connect with guests! Seeing Chef Conrad come out and engage residents in conversations is a testament to how much he cares.
Chef Conrad takes time to visit with residents during dinner, sometimes asking about the meal, sometimes to hear about their day.
Delightfully Respectful
Another way Chef makes sure that the residents are happy is by accommodating special dietary restrictions. Like many restaurants, he and his team can accommodate allergies, intolerances, and preferences. Then they take that to the next level by also accommodating different methods of consumption. For example, I learned that there are two residents who are only able to eat pureed food. Chef and his team worked with these two residents to get their meals just right, which allowed them not only to benefit nutritionally, but to share in the communal dining experience.
What was most surprising to me was the manner in which these accommodations were addressed. It wasn’t like I would have imagined in most places where people helped begrudgingly. Instead, Chef and his team were genuinely delighted to be able to offer residents the simple joy of a shared meal.
Jason Engages Beyond Fitness
Another person who goes above and beyond for the residents is Jason. His fitness classes are wonderful, bright, happy, energetic experiences where you can’t help but smile. What stands out to me is his connection with residents outside of the Fitness Center.
For our Oscars Watch Party, Jason played the role of bouncer. He certainly looks the part, though the role must have been a bit of a stretch for someone who is so welcoming to everyone!
For example, I was sitting at Happy Hour, which is a weekly event where a musician visits and plays fun music for all the residents who gather around. The music was wonderful and the residents were smiling and having fun when, across the room, I saw people dancing! I walked over to see what was going on, and I found Jason leading a group of ten or so residents in a line dance. Everyone was smiling, and not only were they having fun, but they were impressively good dancers! Seeing the carefree nature of those dancing reminded me of the carefree joy I had as a child. I wondered when I lost that. Probably somewhere in middle school. I marveled at the way Jason was able to bring so much childlike joy and whimsy to this event.
During Happy Hours, Jason regularly leads a group of residents in a line dance they’ve practiced in class that week.
Dinner Parties Celebrate Connection
Prairie City Landing is a microcosm of the world I want to inhabit, one in which people know each other and care about one another. I was a little surprised that even the people living in the community recognized how special their relationships were.
One evening, I noticed a group of people dining in the club room. I discovered there was a small dinner party being held by a group of residents with Jason as their guest of honor! Not because he had asked to join them, but because they appreciated him so much that they wanted to share a special meal with him.
Prairie City Landing is a microcosm of the world I want to inhabit, one in which people know each other and care about one another. I was a little surprised that even the people living in the community recognized how special their relationships were.
Seeing the impact that Jason has astounds me. I never considered fitness classes to be the most sociable or easiest place to make connections. In fact, I always hated PE in school (although admittedly that is very different from the fitness program at Prairie City Landing). Seeing the impact Jason had on all the residents showed me that it’s not entirely what a person teaches you; it’s the relationship you form with them.
Relationships Make it Feel Like Home
Communities like Prairie City Landing are the home of their residents, and it is important to have team members who make it feel like home through their actions; Prairie City Landing has that. Chef Conrad and Jason really stood out to me, but so did so many other team members! I was told I wasn’t allowed to write a 25-page essay because no one wants to read that, but with all the acts of respect and kindness I saw from the team in only two days, I easily could!