Hershey’s Trip Part 3
Today I’m going to wrap up my recap of my trip to Hershey’s. In case you missed it, I posted about Day 1 and the first part of Day 2 a while ago. Every time I sat down to write this post, I just couldn’t find the words. Call it writer’s block or whatever, but I finally carved out some time to sit down and finish up the recap of my trip to Hershey’s.
After we finished our chocolate lunch, we headed over to the test kitchens. First we got to meet some of the bakers who work in the test kitchens. It was really interesting for me to learn about their backgrounds and how they all go jobs testing recipes for Hershey’s.
We had the opportunity to ask any questions we had and then we broke up into small groups. I teamed up with Caryn from Rockin’ Mama and Patsy from Consumer Queen. We headed off to our assigned test kitchen to bake a batch of cookies. We made the Triple Chocolate Cookies. It was a lot of fun baking together and our cookies came out amazingly! While we were baking, we were chatting it up, posing for photos, and tasting some of the cookies that had already been baked.
Next we all met in a conference room to learn about the Milton Hershey School. Children from all over the country go to the MHS to get an education that they might not have been able to get otherwise. The students live on site in large houses with children of their same age group. The school does so many amazing things for these students, I can’t possibly talk about all of it here. If you would like more information, definitely check out their website.
Now that we had freshly baked cookies in our possession, it was time to go to one of the family homes to meet some of the students of MHS. Our team met with a bunch of girls in the 3rd to 5th grade levels. We enjoyed a pizza dinner with them, got a tour of their house, learned all about the chores they each do, and finally got ready for our cookie swap. We piled into cars and headed over to one of the houses of boys to swap and decorate cookies.
Talking with the house parents was an amazing experience. The house parents are married couples who’s full time job is to take care of their students. The kind of people who give their lives like that are just amazing.
The next morning, we were all getting ready to head home, but for one last treat, we all were able to choose a spa treatment at the Chocolate Spa. I decided to get a treatment I had never had before, the Chocolate Fondue Wrap. After being exfoliated from head to toe, I was lathered in warm chocolate fondue and then wrapped up like a burrito. It was one of the most relaxing hours of my life and I would highly recommend it!
After my spa treatment, I had a few minutes to hit up the shops in the hotel before catching a shuttle back to the airport. I can’t believe all the activities (and all the chocolate) they crammed into 3 days at Hershey’s, but it was definitely one of the most fun things I’ve ever done. Thanks again Hershey’s for whisking me away for a few days.
I am Jen the Beantown Baker. Engineer by day and baking maven by night. Hubby serves as my #1 fan and official taste tester. We got hitched back in 2006. Barefoot. In the sand. With the waves crashing behind us. It was one of the best decisions we’ve ever made. 
Thank you so much for sharing Jen! I completely understand where you’re coming from and how you feel…do nice things for yourself
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 8:50 am
You do the same Fiona
Thank you so much for sharing. This is UNREAL. My husband Jeff ran the Boston Marathon this year, and I spent the day traveling around on the T watching the marathon with my in-laws. We ended the day just a block from the blast sites – I shared my story here: http://decoratethis.blogspot.com/2013/04/bittersweet.html; Jeff’s story here: http://iwasbornready.blogspot.com/2013/04/my-2013-boston-marathon.html.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:05 pm
Thank you so much for sharing your and Jeff’s stories. What a day you guys had. I’m glad you’re safe.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:10 pm
I added these links to the body of the post.
It definitely does help to put some words together. And I feel the same way- even though I was volunteering at the 10k, i can’t help but wonder why wasn’t i volunteering at the finish line so I could’ve helped?
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:10 pm
I agree – it was therapeutic to write this up.
Thanks for sharing Jen. I haven’t lived in Boston for 4 years now, but my husband and I had a similar reaction. We both wanted to get “home” to the city we love, a city that becomes part of your being no matter where you go next.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:11 pm
I’m glad to hear I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. Living in Boston leaves such a strong impression…
I’m a longtime reader, first time commenter. First I want to give you big virtual hugs regarding the events in Boston. Your feelings are no less valid, no less important. My heart goes out to you. Also, I want to say, welcome to Cincinnati! I live east of the city and am a transplant from Seattle. Cincy is growing on me, and slowly but surely I’m starting to tell people that I’m from Ohio not Washington. 🙂 Best wishes to you and thank you for sharing.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:14 pm
Jen – thanks so much for commenting. I realize that at some point I’ll say I’m from Ohio, but the events of this week just my my heart tied even tighter to Boston…
I’m so glad all of your Boston people are safe. I can completely relate to your feelings of helplessness, I felt the same way after 9/11. It’s hard to be away from family and friends and a city that you love when tragedy strikes.
Big hugs for you and your crew.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:14 pm
Thanks Jene. I’m sure it’s very similar to how you felt around 9/11.
I feel the same way–Boston was my home for four years of college. I love that city. I feel like it is MY city. I wish I was there, locked in with friends, watching the news and hugging them. I feel so helpless on the other side of the state, so far away.
As soon as I’m able I’m going to the city and having a moment in the Common before heading to all my favorite places. My heart aches for the city, I wish I was there.
beantownbaker — April 19th, 2013 @ 4:15 pm
I’m glad to hear I’m not the only one who feels this way. We are trying to make plans to get back to the city sometime soon as well.
Oh I so know how you feel.. I live in Michigan. I’ve been here for almost 10 years, and I still call Boston home. It’ll always be home to me. You’re not alone!
beantownbaker — April 21st, 2013 @ 6:07 pm
Glad to hear I’m not the only one. I definitely think Boston will always feel like home to both me and Hubby.
I know exactly how you feel – I am a 2004 graduate of Virginia Tech. I was at work when the April 16th incident happened in Blacksburg, and I felt SO far away, and SO hopeless – the only place I wanted to be was in my beloved Blacksburg.
To make matters worse, I flew to Missouri the next day (for work) for 3.5 weeks. It seemed that the people out there had ALREADY moved on from the tragedy – it just made NO sense to me. I cried most of those 3 weeks, and since I was out there by myself it was a struggle.
I have always loved Boston, and I know that that community will love and support one another, just as Blacksburg did (and still does). It was the sixth anniversary this past Tuesday, and with everything happening in Boston, and the thoughts of VT and Blacksburg, it was an extremely long and tiring week.
Stay strong.
beantownbaker — April 22nd, 2013 @ 11:46 am
That sounds like a horrible situation for you in the aftermath of the VTech tragedy. Thanks for the kind words and for sharing your story.