Free Samples! 2/24/11

NEW VOCAB: Celiac Disease (CD): an autoimmune disorder characterized by inability to digest gluten.
Hello, everyone! Today I got to have a change from my normal internship routine. Kelsey (a U of I intern) and I set up a table in the cafe section of Strawberry Fields to hand out samples of gluten-free products to afternoon customers (D). We sampled gluten-free cookies in 4 flavors (Dr. Lucy's brand-on sale this month at Strawberry Fields) and Snyders of Hanover gluten-free pretzels. We also prepared 2 handouts a couple days ago about having a gluten-free diet to give to people who sampled the products-one with information about gluten-free diet and another with a variety of gluten-free recipes to try (D). I arrived 15 minutes earlier than normal to my internship to set up the table and get everything ready to go. When Kelsey arrived, we finished making copies of the handouts and set out all the food and fliers, as well as a couple of cookbooks Susan (my sponsor) has about gluten-free eating (D). Once again, I was able to realize the importance of teamwork: we got set up very quickly, and were very efficient because we were working together (A). After we were all ready to go, we sat down and waited for people to walk by to ask if they wanted a free sample. Mrs. Sherrick also popped in to take a few pictures :) When we first started, there was a huge rush of people who wanted samples, but then there was a LONG period of time where hardly anyone came by at all! I felt really bored (F)! But this "downtime" was also nice because it gave Kelsey and I a chance to visit: we are usually so focused on our projects we are working on that we don't get to talk much to eachother. When we were finished with our sample table and had cleaned everything up, Kelsey and I got to sample the gluten-free products ourself (the pretzels were especially yummy!). One important thing I learned today was to communicate clearly with other people and always be polite and gracious, and say "thank-you" when they leave (A). I also realized that gluten-free products can be tasty to all people, not just people who are required to follow a gluten-free diet (A). I will see everyone tomorrow at the seminar!