It is almost the end of the semester, and this week is my
hell week! If you are wondering why it is my hell week, well, I have 3 exams
and a project due this week. But I can’t want until this week ends, because!
This Sunday will be my sorority’s formal! Actually, I have been preparing for
this formal since the beginning of this semester! The reason I wanted Social
Chair (takes care of formal and other events) is a lot of the people that I
care a lot in the sorority are graduating! The last thing that I can do for
them before they step into the next stage of life is to give them an
unforgettable formal! I want them to enjoy this formal dinner as never ever
before! On top of that, our sisters from UTSA (The University of Texas at San
Antonio) are coming! We are going to have a joined formal! After all, the more,
the merrier!
Formal will be at Estancia
Yummy
A lot of meat, yum
Since it is a joined formal, we have to keep all our
traditions. In order to make it funnier, this semester we are going to give out
gag awards! We used to always have the same nice, inspiring and generic awards!
This semester, after some struggle, we can finally do gag awards! To know what
award to give out, I created a Google survey so that everyone can pitch in!
They can name a sister, name the award and explain why she deserves the award.
I was actually having a lot of fun while reading the entries. Apparently, one
nominated me as “Miss 3rd Wheel.” If you wonder why I got this
award, well it is because I always thirdwheel my friends. Most of my closest
friends are dating! So, whenever my friends want to hangout, it is always
hanging out with my friends plus one (her/his boy/girlfriend).
Because of the secured budget we have for formal, I have
come up with some affordable and creative ideas. For the centerpieces, I am
planning to use some mason jars, decorate them and put some flowers or candle
in it. I got inspired when I was surfing on Pinterest. For the newly crossed
girls (new addition to the sorority), I am planning to hang their names on the
back of the seat as “newly crossed” and in smaller letters “meet me.” And for
the seats name tag for the other girls and her dates, I am planning to have
chocolates with toothpicks on it to show their names. At first, I planned to
bake cupcakes, but since I have so many exams and tests, I decided to use
chocolates. Guests can eat the chocolate if they feel hungry! But usually
people take them to go and a “souvenir.”
This is so cute
If time permits, I have planned to hide a mini gift below
every table. We (me and another girl that is going to MC with me) are going to
announce the winner by the middle of the event. I am planning to stick the
“winner” sticker under the chair. If time permits and formal gets too boring, I
will have some games ready. We will have the traditional guess the word game.
People who want to play will couple up, one mimic the word and the other will
need to guess.
The tables will be white
I have been planning this formal for a while, I hope they
will like it. For the next blog, I will update y’all with more information
about how did the formal go! Here I have attached a video of how Estancia is.
What do we really celebrate? Why do we even celebrate?
It is soon “Semana Santa” or Easter! They way Americans and
Latin Americans celebrate Senama Santa is not the same. Most countries in
Central and South America are Catholic countries. People from there take Semana
Santa very seriously!
The Easter Bunny is something very American. For Hispanics,
Easter is more about Easter Eggs Recent years, Hispanics have started to become
familiar with the idea of Easter Bunnies and Eggs since its market had grown
internationally. Many of you might wonder the relationship between Lent and
Easter. Lent is composed of fourty days, starting Miercoles de Ceniza (Ash
Wednesday) to Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday). Semana Santa or Holy Week starts
with Domingo de Ramos (Palm Sunday) and ends on Domingo de Pascua (Easter).
Since most Hispanic countries are Catholic, they understand
the “real” reason of celebrating or commemorating God. Semana Santa for us
(Hispanics) is to commemorate the death, sacrifice and resurrection of Jesus
Christ.
Semana Santa means Holy Week. Everything starts on Sunday,
Domingo de Ramos or Palm Sunday in English. According to the Bible, Jesus
arrived to Jerusalem on a donkey. The villages welcomed Him and His disciples
with palms.
On Thursday, it is Jueves Santo or Holy Thursday in English.
According to the Bible, that is the day when Jesus had his last supper. The day
after is Viernes Santo or Good Friday in English. According to the Bible, Jesus
was crucified this day. On Sunday, it is Domingo de Resureccion or Easter
Sunday in English. According to the Bible, it is the day when Jesus
resurrected.
Now that we know the story behind Semana Santa, let’s see
what do Catholics in Panama do.
Domingo de Ramos
In Panama, the people along with the Archbishop gather palm
leaves to celebrate this day. They raise the palm leaves and act as they are
welcoming Jesus.
Panama
Panama
Jueves Santo
This is the day when people start to kind of really
celebrate Easter. Usually, most school, unless is a religious school (different
than Catholics or Christian), don't have class starting on Thursday. This is a
day which the Panamanians don’t work and spend time with God. This is the day
where you attend Mass.
Panama
La Ultima Cena
Viernes Santo
A lot of true Catholic believers spend this day remembering
Jesus Christ by going to church to pray. Some of them participate in the
“Liturgia de Adoracion a la Cruz” by reacting the crucification of Jesus Christ.
Panama
Peru
Doming de Resureccion
It is the last day of Semana Santa (Holy Week). Easter Egg
is not a marketing idea, it is actually part of the tradition to exchange
Huevos de Pascua de chocolate (Chocolate Eggs).
Peru
Now that you know the story behind Easter and Easter Eggs,
are you excited to celebrate it?
If you are not religious, you can just do the Easter Egg
part. It is very easy to get Easter Eggs anywhere. If you want to make it more
fun, try the plastic eggs where you can fill it in with whatever you want. You
can always get party supplies at Party City. A really fun thing to do would be painting eggs with your friends and family and then give it to each other. Remember, it is always fun to celebrate!
Here is a video (in Spanish) with easy ways to paint a Easter Egg!
Recently, I just realized that there are not Kinder Surprise in America! In case you wonder what it is, here is a video of someone opening some Kinder Eggs! Although he got an adult voice, he sounds pretty innocent and baby!
La Semana Santa es la manifestación de Dios de que la vida es esencialmente espiritual y eterna.
Today, it is Cesar Chavez Day! I am actually working on a
project of designing an integrated marketing campaign, which includes different
public relations and advertising campaigns to raise awareness and promote the
Cesar Chavez movie. This is a group project that I enjoy doing it with my friends!
Cesar Chavez Day is actually a holiday celebrated only in
Texas, California, and Arizona Although
it is not a day celebrated federally, it is celebrated internationally. Mexico
celebrates it! March 31st is a day to be observed with “appropriate service,
community, and educational programs to honor Cesar Chavez’s enduring legacy.” Obviously,
the best way to celebrate this unique and important day is by watching the
movie, Cesar Chavez: An American Hero! The cast for this movie includes Michael Peña as Cesar Chavez, America Ferrera as Helen Chavez and Rosario Dawson as Dolores Huerta. The release date for the movie is on March 28, 2014, just before the official Cesar Chavez Day!
To
Celebrate this day, we should first make some preparations. You don't necessary need to be from
Mexican heritage or live in Texas, California or Arizona, to plan something fun and informational for that day. Anyone should know more about Cesar Chavez! He is an American farm worker, labor leader, civil right activist and co-funder of National Farm Workers Association. First, you should
make sure that you could get the Cesar Chavez movie tickets. You will not want
to in line to watch the movie. If you want to buy the tickets beforehand, you
should click here.
You should plan out this night so that your friends, relatives or children who don't know about Cesar Chavez get to know more about him. This kind of celebration is more of a hangout type, it is not the type where you need to send out invitations or organize what food to prepare. You should start by contacting some friends that you want to watch the movie with or just go with your family. If you have children, then you should tell them that you guys are going to watch the Cesar Chavez movie together beforehand so that they can go and tell their classmates that they are watching the movie. Make sure to educate them a bit about who Cesar Chavez is and what he did.
Before watching the movie, it is always a good idea to have dinner together first. You don't necessary need to plan too much for this night, because it is a casual hangout. You go to your favorite restaurants, eat and then watch the movies! This is the best way to celebrate Cesar Chavez Day!
Remember, you don't need to plan too much for this day! You can always watch the movie later, not necessary on that date! You don't necessary need to have dinner together before watching the movie, but it is highly recommended. You can always have the dinner after the movie too! Anything works!
I would like to conclude this post with a very special quote from Cesar Chavez,
Our language is the reflection of ourselves. A language is an exact
reflection of the character and growth of its speakers.
----- O -----
If you really want to make a friend, go to someone's house and eat with him... the people who give you their food give you their heart. ----- O ----- Perhaps we can bring the day when children will learn from their earliest days that being fully man and fully woman means to give one’s life to the liberation of the brother who suffers.
