all things annacat

Friday, February 24, 2017

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

Sunday, January 29, 2017

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.

Friday, September 2, 2016

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 siz

able 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.