Valencia

Valencia
Josh Gray & Emily Cundick ISU Abroad

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Josh Gray & Emily Cundick Celebrating Falles in Spain

Emily Cundick and Josh Gray were selected to represent ISU Abroad in Valencia Spain for the Spring 2012.
Since their departure we have been in communications and followed them on their abroad experience. Both students are highly involved here at ISU in the Language Department as Spanish speakers and majoring or minoring in the language. Our recent update from Josh and Emily is their cultural experience in the Fellas Celebration in Spain.

The Falles is a traditional celebration held in commemoration of Saint Joseph in Valencia, Spain. The term Falles refers to both the celebration and the monuments created during the celebration. A number of towns in the Valencia Community have similar celebrations inspired by the original in Valencia.
Each neighborhood of the city has an organized group of people, the Casal faller, that works all year long holding fundraising parties and dinners, usually featuring the famous specialty paella. Each casal faller produces a construction known as a falla which is eventually burnt. Acasal faller is also known as a comissiĆ³ fallera.


The name of the festival is thus the plural of the Valencian word falla. 
(All Pictures By: Emily Cundick)

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Emily Cundick Abroad in Valencia, Spain; A few thoughts



[3:54:23 PM] emily.cundick: Studying abroad has been an amazing experience! I already feel like I've grown a lot.  I've had to step out of my comfort zone many times which was intimidating at first, but I have grown so much by doing so.  I've had so many amazing experiences already and I'm excited for the ones still to come.  Studying abroad has also been a great opportunity to meet new people from across the globe! I have met so many people that I hope to keep in touch with for a long time.  It has helped me to become more open-minded and has given me so much more knowledge about the world we live in.  I would definitely suggest studying abroad to college students.  It is well worth all of the work. Now we'll see if I ever come home! ;)