This time we are able to visit both the school (where the students study and sleep) and the restaurant (where they train).
The 40+ students are mostly underprivileged, from the countryside, who did not finish regular schools for some reason. Here they learn to work in a fine restaurant, and the English communications skills needed.
They are provided with a place to live. And they do not have to pay - they cannot anyway. Yet by the time they graduate from the 3-year program, they are in great demand. That is how good their training is.
They get up at 6:45 am, freshen themselves, have breakfast, then attend classes for the whole morning. They then have lunch, which they prepare for themselves. Their dormitory is tidy and spotless, which they clean and maintain themselves. It is easy to imagine the discipline that they have acquired from the training.
In the afternoon, they train and serve in the restaurant.
The restaurant is very well run. It serves very fine cuisine. Excellent German style pork knuckle. French style (?) duck breast.
And Asian cuisine, cooked in Chinese style woks.
The students we encounter are all courteous, diligent, and professional. No wonder they are in such high demand.
The resources needed to run such a school is great. I understand the land for the restaurant as well as the school are provided by the Catholic church. There is also the manpower, the equipment, the supplies, electricity, … The income from the restaurant and the catering must come in handy. Yet I imagine the kindness of donors is also critical. I heard that some graduates from Mai Sen are among the staff. They can probably make more money working at high class hotels and restaurant. Yet they are working here, with a different kind of return.
Many of these youngsters are having a much brighter future because of the kindness of others. God has blessed some of us with much, and we should bless others so. That is how the world should operate, isn’t it?
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