First year students from various SMU faculties gathered at PeraMakan on 27 October 2009 to enjoy an afternoon of team bonding, led by Chef Kathryn. After a 45 minute talk on Peranakan food culture, the group assembled at the Patio, to learn the finer points of making Nyonya Popiah and Nyonya Kueh Pie Tee.

For many of them, this is their first time preparing the two dishes. Despite being inexperienced in the various tasks given, they showed surprising enthusiasm and displayed good teamwork in the sharing of tasks, both pleasant as well as the unpleasant. Group leaders were natural in leading their members to complete the allocated tasks and everyone was given an opportunity to try their hands at different tasks.

Equally surprising was their ability to grasp the various skills taught, from fine slicing, chopping and pounding of chillies using the "Batu Lesong" to the more difficult ones like making the egg skin popiah wrappers and the kueh pie tee cases. At the end of the event, team leaders were happy to report that the various activities have helped participants shed their inhibitions and enhanced communication among them. Participants reported that they have not only enjoyed themselves but were surprised that they could successfully complete what they thought were a series of difficult tasks. Some participants discovered that they liked cooking, something which they hitherto thought they had no inclination to try.

As participants tucked into the delicious popiah and kueh pie tee, they were immensely satisfied that could accomplish what they thought were difficult tasks. The event proved that nothing is insurmountable if all worked as a team.