Anna's Adventures Abroad: Las Fallas

When I chose to study abroad in Valencia, Spain, I had very few expectations. I knew I didn’t want to study in a big, touristy city; and I knew I wanted to go somewhere with warm weather. After doing some research and discovering Valencia, a beach town bordering the mediterranean sea, my decision was made. 

About a week before I left for Valencia I went to lunch with one of my friends from home who studied here during the previous semester, and she gave me all the insight on the city. All she could talk about was some festival called, “Las Fallas”. I had never heard of it and didn’t give it much thought after our conversation, but I thought it seemed cool based on all she had to say. I remember Abby telling me how how much money and time the city spent preparing for this one celebration and how jealous she was that I was going to get to experience it.

So, what is Las Fallas? After many attempts I still cannot explain this crazy festival in one sentence, or even two minutes. So here is my perception, experience and a few memories from hands down one of the craziest, most unique experiences I’ve ever had.

Fallas is a weeklong, or really monthlong, celebration in commemoration of St. Joseph. It also marks the beginning of the spring equinox. The holiday symbolizes a fresh start which is carried out by literally burning the old. During this week, millions of people come to Valencia to partake in this celebration and the population nearly triples in size.

Essentially, Fallas is a festival of fire. And it is straight up nuts. Starting in March, you can expect to hear firecrackers that sound like gunshots going off all day and night at any given time. Kids as young as five years old walk around with little wooden boxes full of explosives. They can be set off anywhere by anyone and there are certainly no rules when it comes to respecting others people space, or their eardrums. It doesn’t matter where you are or what time it is, there are firecrackers everywhere.

Fallas is a time where the entire community comes together to enjoy each others company and be a part of something bigger than themselves. Each neighborhood spends the year up until March raising money through parties, dinners, and fundraisers to build a falla and create a firework display for their neighborhood.

What is a falla? In Latin the word means torch, but a falla is a giant firecracker-filled structure that each neighborhood, or casal faller, constructs and decorates. Later on the final night of Las Fallas all of their artistic creations are burned as a symbolic gesture. Over the years, these sculptures have evolved from more literal depictions and historic representations to whimsical, satirical structures that are highly critical of modern society, as well as national and local government. This year, Donald Trump was a popular theme among Las Fallas. 

 

During the week of the festival, classes are cancelled and many businesses shut down; but it is no week of rest. There is so much to do and see. Once you venture out into the town you can expect to be out until sunset as the only way to get home is to walk and getting through the crowds can be a challenge. Here are a few of the events that make up the celebration. 

La mascletà. Every day starting the first day of March at 2pm there is a mascletà, or firework display, put on in the main town square. Just to give you an idea of how insanely loud this firecracker display is, I live two miles from the main square and it sounds like bombs are being thrown right outside of my window. Before the festival we had to attend meetings through our program on safety precautions and the dos and don’ts of Las Fallas. One of the rules they told us was to never plug your ears because the sound is so loud it can literally burst your eardrums; Instead, you have to open your mouth. While I never really grew accustomed to what sounded like the word coming to an end every day at 2pm, I did attend a few of the mascletàs and enjoyed the sensation of my entire body pulsing to the rhythm of the display and the shaking ground below. 

Los castigos. The fireworks. Along with la mascletà every day at 2pm are the fireworks displays every night at 12am. From the main bridge over the riverbed or the top of a building you can sit and watch some of the biggest fireworks displays in Europe. Valencians spend millions of dollars on just one display, and these go on every night for a week. They even fund the displays through taxes! All I know is that fireworks on The Fourth of July will never compare to the shows I saw during Las Fallas. 

What surprised me the most about the festival is the way the entire community is involved in every aspect. Walking down the street on any given day I’d see middle-aged dads spending their days painting these whimsical structures. I’d see young girls dressed in elaborate gowns parading through the streets while their moms stood by cheering them on. I’d see an eight year old boy at 3am in the middle of a mosh pit dance party on the streets and babies in strollers sleeping through fireworks shows at 1am. 

No matter what time of day or night it was, neither kids nor adults were missing out. I couldn’t help but imagine my little seven-year- old self being able to light off firecrackers in the streets with my friends and never being told it was time to come in. I don’t know how these kid don’t go deaf by age ten, but it made me think twice about how sheltered and protective our culture is today. It felt like I was back in time; before technology corrupted our imaginations and fear limited our outdoor play. I am envious of the freedom and innocence these children have.

L’Ofrena de Flors. For this part of the holiday each neighborhood, or casal faller, brings a donation of flowers to the main square at the end of the week. Here all the flowers are gathered to construct a giant Virgin Mary. In the streets you can see woman weeping at the feet of the Virgin, in awe of the beautiful creation and the sense of community the offering illustrates. The display smelled amazing and looked breathtaking. This display is the only part of Las Fallas that does not get burned, and the flowers remain in the square for days and weeks to come. 

La despertà. Wake-up call. This is my least favorite part of Las Fallas. Every morning at 8am bands parade through every street playing music and setting off firecrackers. This wouldn’t be bad on normal day, but when you don’t get home until 5am and are then woken back up at 8am to do it all over again, it gets exhausting. Even on the nights I didn’t make it out until 5am the other people in my residencia did, and no one has any sense of respect for rest during Las Fallas. 

Every day there was more to see. It was like a giant state fair took over the town. There were pop-up cervecerías and mojito stands on every street, bunyols y chocolate (a Spanish essential during Las Fallas), and the bars and restaurants were swarming with people all day long. Locals set up tents selling clothing, knick- knacks, and jewelry; and people come from all over to marvel at the huge fallas displays. 

La Nit del Foc. The night of fire. On the final day, we attended Cavalcada del Foc. This is the final parade, or celebration of fire, and it marks the start of the burnings. The burning was definitely my favorite part of the entire celebration. I still don’t understand how it’s legal and how the whole city doesn't burn down. Starting at midnight on the last day of the week, all the fallas are doused in oil and set on fire. These were the biggest bonfires I've ever seen. They have teams of firefighters on sight before they light the structures and the firemen immediately start spraying down all the nearby trees, building, and power lines to attempt to keep them from catching fire. The area is roped off, but more often than not the flames grow so large that it drives the crowd back even farther than anticipated. I simply watched in awe, my inner pyro loving every minute of it. 

La Cremà. This is the largest and final burning and is a very emotional experience for many people. To me it was a beautiful display, but to them it is so much more. That’s what I loved most about this holiday. These people work so hard all year to construct these wonderful sculptures, just to put them up in flames. While it makes no sense, it holds true for the way we live our lives. Las Fallas marks a new season of life, a fresh start. We put so much time and energy into things that more often than not don’t really matter. In the end, it’s about a community coming together for something greater; it's about realizing what truly matters, and leaving the rest to burn.  

¡Viva Las Fallas!

Anna's Adventures Abroad: Little victories

Anna's Adventures Abroad: Little victories

A delayed flight or a blessing in disguise? As a sit in the airport waiting for my next weekend adventure, to London this time, I can’t help but be thankful for a few moments to relax. The past month has been incredible. I’ve seen more places and gained more experiences than I ever have in my lifetime. Words can’t describe how fulfilling and thrilling this experience has been. 

However, I am quickly realizing the importance of rest; the importance of reflection; even if it means taking just a few short moments to soak it all in and appreciate all the little victories life brings. 

Two nights ago, as I watched the Valencia fútbol team beat Real Madrid two to one at Mestalla Stadium in my new “hometown”, I witnessed a huge victory. The screaming fans; the shaking bleachers; the players celebrating and running off the field; they epitomized Spain in one epic moment. In that moment I thought about my friends and family back at home who play soccer and have been following these teams and players for their whole lives. I thought about the kids standing around me watching their idols achieve their goals, while planting dreams and goals in their hearts all the while. I thought about how special and surreal this moment was and how much it meant to so many people, and I thanked God that he let me experience it. 

As the game ended the crowd quickly dwindled and it seemed as if nothing had happened. The celebration was short lived and life carried on as normal. My friend and I were two of the last people left in the stadium just because we didn't want to quit celebrating. As I walked home that night, I realized how special that victory was. But I also realized that while big victories are something to be celebrated and remembered, sometimes the little victories are the things we should celebrate most. 

A delayed flight; a little victory. What could have been a huge inconvenience ended up being a blessing. With no connecting flight and no pre arranged plans, a three hour delay in the airport this morning was just what I needed. I had a chance to rest, read, plan and catch up.

Learning a new word; a little victory. Learning another culture is difficult and frustrating most of the time. Even some as simple as learning a few slang words or understanding a conversation between two kids on the bus make the hard moments worth it.

Making a new friend; a little victory. Recently I’ve found myself in situations where “talking to a stranger” is the best way to get the help I need. From the old Moroccan man at the jewelry store who gave me a friendship bracelet to remember my travels, to the old businessman at the bus stop who ended up giving me a tour of the town hall, I have been pushed and led to step out of my comfort zone and find companionship in most unlikely circumstances. 

Finding the last bike at the bike rack; a little victory. I change my mind…. this is a big victory.

Making a spontaneous decision; a little victory. After class this past week I had a little free time and decided I wanted to get my ear pierced. If you know me, you that I am a planner. I think long and hard on most decisions and plan everything down to the last detail. I could have gone home and looked up all the best places to go, or pushed to off for another day after thinking it through a little harder, but I am so glad that I didn’t. Sometimes the most rewarding decisions are the ones you don't plan on making. 

These little victories are nothing short of miracles. They are God’s way of letting me know that he is with me; He is always looking out for me; He is always in control. These miracles remind me to thank God in each moment and take nothing for granted. I know His Presence is guiding me, and thanks to all the big and little victories I’ve experience this past month, I feel It more than ever.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”

― Albert Einstein

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go." Joshua 1:9

Anna's Adventure Abroad

 

I’ve been abroad for less than a week, and my mind and eyes have already been opened in more ways than I thought possible. The concept and feeling of living in a bubble for the majority of my life could not be more prevalent. Not only have I seen places and views that I couldn’t have imagined in my head if I tried, but I have also been introduced to new people and ways of life.

Everything here is different. To say I feel unfamiliar would be an understatement. The workers and waiters are not very friendly. The time schedule is nearly flipped; lunch is at 3PM and dinner is at 10PM. Pedestrians do not have the right of way. Owning a car is a rarity. Even the outlets are different.

I have quickly understood that this unique way of life, while it is entirely different from mine, is not wrong. In order to gain the most out of this life changing experience, I am going to have to embrace the changes and accept these differences – even if it means walking 20,000 steps a day or staying up until 5am on a weekend. 

The culture here is different, but so is everything else. The whole country is fresh and new, from the buildings to the food to the way people dress. I cannot believe the detail, talent, thought and time that architects and artists put into the amazing cathedrals, paintings, and buildings that I’ve seen. I had no idea human beings had so much talent. Textbooks simply don’t do these works of art justice. It is a shame that we don’t utilize our own talents today in the same way our ancestors did hundreds of years ago. At the same time, it is breathtaking and inspiring to know that our predecessors had this much talent and appreciation for artistic expression. 

The most important concept I’ve learned in seven short days is this: I realize how small I am in this big world and how sheltered I have been from the people and places around me. I see how important it is to accept differences in people and places alike and to put myself out there and get to know others. I have never met so many open minded, free thinking, and unique people as I have on this trip. I’ve made friends from across the country and listened in on some extremely enlightening and eye opening conversations. I appreciate more than ever simply being around people, especially those who have the same love of life and adventure. While I have always been extremely independent and somewhat keep to myself, I find comfort in knowing that I am not alone in this journey. 

I am so grateful to be here. Sometimes I find myself missing home or the familiarity that comes with being in a place where I know everyone and everything. But I am learning to take a step back, look at how much I have already seen, how many friendships I have already made, and how much I have learned, and I have to give myself some credit. I must be patient and realize that this world-wind experience is not going to happen over night. I must rest, reflect, and realize all that I have gained, while anticipating and hoping for all I still have to gain—in my case, it’s the world. 

Chi Omega Bid Day 2016

Chi Omega Eta Gamma 

University of South Carolina

(Pictured: Kasey Knox and Kaitlyn Ellmyer, Fall '15)

As New Member Educator for Chi Omega at the University of South Carolina, I had the opportunity to plan Bid Day. The feeling Bid Day brings to Greek Life members at U of SC are comparable to that of a kid on Christmas morning. It is the culmination of the recruitment experience where potential new member run home to their new sisterhood. It is a day full of anticipation and excitement, kinship and gratitude, and joy in its most pure sense. 

While I am responsible for the new members' experience as a whole and helping integrate them into such a large sisterhood, a sizable part of my position revolves around planning the Bid Day activity. At an SEC school, where greek life makes up over 26% of the student body and sororities have close to 400 members, this is no small event. I spent the past four months, May through August planning and preparing every last detail for Bid Day. 

(Fall '16 pledge class)

Along with the event itself, this included organizing a chapter photo and class photos with a professional photographer, coordinating the Bid Day event with Sorority Council and the University, attending meetings to discuss guidelines and other information, as well as panels to inform potential new members about my position and what it means to join a sorority at the University of South Carolina. Lastly, I coordinated with a variety of providers for food, supplies, venue, and transportation, as well as matched new members with mentors and buddies to help them feel welcome. 

(Pictured: Me, New Member Educator; Taylor Lutz, Recruitment Chair; Annie Wacker, President)

I took the position of New Member Educator not only because I wanted to share the passion and love I have for Chi Omega with others and be a mentor to them as they begin this new chapter in their lives, but also because I knew it was a position that would expand my resume and allow me to gain experience in my career path. After a summer interning with Virginia Living Magazine, I realized my passion for style, writing, and design. On the other hand, I realized that being confined to a space is not how I want to express my creativity. I want to pursue a career that allows me to have social interaction, to be on my feet, to have my hands in many different facets, and to enjoy the fruition of my hard work. I'd really like to go into event planning, and with this extensive project I did just that. 

      

Each sorority choses a theme on Bid Day that is expressed through the chapters colors, banners, tshirts, decorations, and activity. Last spring, the recruitment team and I decided Chi O's theme, "Where the Wild Things Are" based off of he book by Maurice Sendak. We wanted to embrace the rustic, mystic, earthy vibes of the book while still including an element of wildness and freedom with gold and glitter accents. I like to think of my chapter as a group of down to earth, individualistic girls--  and I think our theme embodied that.

Face-in-hole board painted by Victoria Holm, Fall '14

Delaney Dunkley, Fall '14

                                             Banner painted by Rebecca Howard, Fall '15

 Once we decided on a theme, the first step in the planning process was to order the necessary materials to assemble Bid Day bags for the new members. These bags are an exciting welcome home present to the our new sisters and include Chi O insignia, theme related items, and various cute presents. Here are some pictures showing what I included in the bags. 

Bags custom ordered from Hop Studio on Etsy.com; copy of the book; custom designed makeup bag from Claire Bella; "Where the Wild Things Are" decals from Redbubble.com; Chi O decals from GreekVinyls on Etsy.com and Handmade gold star crown from BelowBlink on Etsy.com.

    

I also included this tervis tumbler that I designed on DiscountMugs.com                                                          

I wrote a little note to each new member inside the first page of the book. At the venue on Bid Day we also had a station where new members could sign and write a little note in a copy of the book. That will also be displayed at the Chi O house.

I could not have made it through all the nights spent crafting, running errands, and unpacking boxes without the tremendous help of my Sisterhood Support Team. This group of girls, along with my two assistants, worked so hard to make sure everything got done and helped me whenever and wherever needed.

Crafting wild thing cut outs for new member signs on Bid Day 

The night before... all lined up and ready to be picked up!

We used plenty of decorations at the venue including sticks, moss, burlap, twine and light arrangements. I wanted to create a woodland, foresty atmosphere. Sisterhood support team and I did much of the decor ourselves like painting the mason jars and decor pieces above. 

After much research for the venue location I chose The Farm At Ridgeway, a popular wedding and reception venue in Ridgeway, SC about 30 minutes from campus. I felt that it would be the perfect location for all the activities I wanted to include. The rustic, spacious feel of the farm helped contribute to the theme and harboured the natural, relaxed feel I wanted to create with the event. 

S/o to Ruthann Payne for the hand-painted pallets. Check out her work @2boardgirls on Instagram!

It wouldn't be a Chi O event without plenty of food. For dinner we served soft drinks, pizza and assorted fruit and vegetable trays.

Centerpieces

Chi O moss letters and Chi Omega banner display 

It is no secret that sorority girls love to take pictures. When choosing a venue I wanted to make sure it was a place that offered plenty of great photo opportunities and room for theme decor. I ordered four polaroid cameras and bookoodles of film so girls could take polaroid photos at the activity. Many girls hung a picture or two on the photo boards and took a couple home with them. I took the photos off the boards once the day was over and put them in a photo album that will be displayed in the living room of the Chi O house.

Photo boards hand-made from windows purchased at a local antique mall

Bid Day is a long, exhausting, and hectic day. In previous years, the activity has been pretty exertive. I wanted to change it up this year and do something that allowed girls to somewhat relax, have time to take a deep breathe and soak in the eventfulness of the day. 

Shortly after we decided on the theme I had the idea to watch the movie at Bid Day. My biggest criteria for the venue was a field. I thought it would be such a cool bonding experience to lay out blankets and pillows in a field and watch "Where the Wild Things Are" on a huge blow up movie projector, complete with a popcorn machine and Cromer's freshly popped popcorn. 

Looking out into the field as the sun was setting and seeing all my sisters talking, laughing, and enjoying each others' presence was truly magical. Bid Day was everything I hoped it would be and more. Sure, there were a few hiccups here and there during the planning process but overall it went wonderfully. Throughout this experience I learned the importance of staying ahead of the timeline and staying organized. If the events I get to orchestrate in the future are half as amazing as Chi Omega Bid Day then I can't wait for all that's in store.