Special Meal for Tibetans' Special Day

When Susan Osborn, manager of the Montville High School cafeteria, decided to honor the Tibetan students on their New Year's Day, she figured that the best way would be to enlist them to help.

And so they did, providing guidance and taste testing, and helping make 1,200 momos, a dumpling-style delicacy, of meat in wonton skin.

Osborn says she has been so impressed with the Tibetan students at the school, with their gentleness and their journey, and their stories, that she decided to do a special lunch for them.

She did a lot of research, she said, and a lot of work to make the Tibetan food fit into the food service program.

"Our cafeteria staff is pretty amazing," said Principal Chad Ellis.

The Great Wall helped, Osborn said, as some of the ingredients - wonton skins, for instance - could not be purchased through the school's regular provisioners. The Coast Guard also helped with some supplies, through Cheryl Ferreira, who works at Montville High School and the Coast Guard.

Osborn is the daughter of Eugene Lewis, a world traveler and volunteer, who has visited Robert Thorn's classes in the past year to share his experiences with the students.

A group of Tibetan students happily said the food was delicious, and reminded them of home. Jiangyan Wangmu said her favorite was the momos, and that the ones in the cafeteria tasted wonderful.

The meal was to celebrate the Tibetan New Year, Osborn said.