Ok, so I know it's been a while since I sent one of these, but in my defense, last week was Dead Week and the week to come is Test Week. Despite all the endless studying, there have been a few things worth mentioning in the last week and a half. Last week, for example, we went to a really good art museum in Valencia as a requirement for History of Art. Although I was already familiar with the style of the Gothic pieces (they had a triptych by Bosch himself) and the Rennaissance works, I had not seen or given much thought to Baroque art before. It's very dark, with an interesting use of light. We skipped ahead of what we were studying, too, to look at some Goya, Velazquez, and Greco paintings, too--I wish I'd had more time there, but it was only a quick visit. My favorite painting was one of Joshua stopping the sun--it uses the light in really cool ways.
The next day was one of our favorite teacher's birthdays, so we gave her a Hello Kitty bag as a class to celebrate it and had cake--it was fun to see her reaction. We like doing lighthearted things to break up the stress of Dead Week--on Tuesday, we had a self-proclaimed Hippie Day, much to the astonishment of the teachers, who rubbed their eyes in wonder to see so many clothes they had thought were extinct. On Wednesday, three girls randomly came dressed as the Powerpuff Girls, for the sheer fun of it. When asked why, they just shrugged and said, "We're bored."
Thursday, though, was a day of almost enforced relaxation. Group A, the beginning level of Spanish here, put on a play directed by my friend Jenny, Mermeleda de Fresa. It was absolutely hilarious, and I loved it. Shortly after, we were required to go to Valencia to start enjoying Fallas, the most important fiesta for Valencia. A lot of people were a bit angry about having to leave campus for so long during Dead Week, myself included, but now I'm so glad they did it because it was an experience I'll never forget.
First, the Mascleta, where they gather in the square at the center of the city and shoot as many fireworks as possible in the middle of the day to see how loud they can make it. Jenny and I stood in the packed square where we could see the Falleras, women who officiate the festival, their gorgeous dresses gleaming from afar. Then, after the blasting of the Valencia anthem, they began the Mascleta. Even the most intensely pyromaniacal friends I've ever had would appreciate this display--I reveled in the smell of gunpowder, in the sheer quantity fo shells they lit. I could feel the sound, not just hear it, as though the rhythm of the explosions and the beating of my heart were one. The ground shook, the plaza filled with the smoke of all these shells, looking like some kind of strangely festive war zone. . . and I LOVED it.
Unfortunately, outside the metro station afterwards, one of my classmates was so overcome with zeal to celebrate Fallas that he threw a firework a bit too close to me. When it exploded, it hurt my ears in a way the noise of the Mascleta hadn't, because I wasn't prepared for it--they were sore for hours afterward. At the very least, he apologized profusely and seemed sincere about it.
All of this was forgotten as we explored the exposition of the Ninots, the carved wooden statues that will be in the larger Fallas that they will put out on the streets later on in the holiday. It truly is amazing, the detail and craftsmanship, not to mention the imagination of the artists. They work so hard to create these--and yet only one won't be burned by the end of the festival. One gets saved by popular vote; I voted for a beautifully detailed one that looked so real, I almost thought it was alive.
After looking through all of these, I was fairly tired, and parked myself in a cafe to wait for the next event of the evening, another play. I amused myself by making a work of art with some crayons I'd bought earlier--it did my study-tired brain good to release some visual creativity. Then, when the play rolled around, I was really able to enjoy it. La Comedia Nueva y el Cafe is a classic Spanish work, and they used nationally-acclaimed actors, but don't let that fool you--it was hilarious. I laughed so hard, I thought I was going to burst. I loved in particular, the opening scene where they made fun of the history of Sagunto--all about people who should not be in the play-writing business.
Today was consumed with a project for Culture class, where we each made and presented meals from various countries. Jenny and I chose India, and made curry and lassi. There were also burritos, real salsa, empanadas, a good salad, fritters, pasta, and tiramisu for dessert. It was wonderfully tasty and filling, though more satisfying is knowing that I have that project, and several others, done now. This finals week, I will actually be able to study, instead of being bogged down by projects at the same time. I know that a lot of my friends are going through that final crunch before Spring Break, too, and I hope all of you do very well, with as little stress as possible.
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