International Fiesta

International Fiesta is a showcase, at the Center for the Arts, of various ethnic student associations performing traditional dances of the specific culture they’re representing. I performed to a Mulan themed soundtrack with the Chinese Student Association. We have been preparing for this performance for a month from 9pm to 1am every night and I couldn’t wait for performance day to show all my friends what I had been doing for the past month. I played a Hun, which refers to the Mongolians in Mulan who wanted to conquer China. We had to arrive hours beforehand so we would have ample time to do hair, makeup and costume. My friend, Stephanie, and I got so excited for our show as we were teasing our hair and smearing on black makeup in the bathroom. Finally all our hard work was going to be all worth it. We knew there were 3,000 people watching us perform, but we were more pumped than nervous. I said to myself backstage there was no way I was able to mess up. I’ve done my routine too many times to mess up a two minute routine.
I was backstage along with the other Hun performers waiting for the first scene in our routine to end. Right before I was about to go on stage a wooden stick which was one of our props came flying at my forehead. My adrenaline was pumping when it happened, so the throbbing pain was the last thing I was thinking about. I decided it wasn’t a big deal so I ran on stage and started doing my routine. As I was swiping my sword I felt liquid pouring down my face. My blood got all over my costume, my partner, and the stage. Nobody realized I was injured because I looked okay when I did the routine. After doing my two minute routine me and my friend ran off stage and rushed to the bathroom. Soon all of the Chinese Student Association surrounded me in the bathroom getting me towels, water and M&Ms. I didn’t realize how bad my injury was until the paramedics came and told me I needed to go to the hospital and get stitches. I went to the hospital and the nurse physician sewed me up and I got a total of five stitches. After the hospital I went to Denny’s where everybody was and everybody clapped for me. Even though I didn’t have fun at the actual performance I did enjoy all the late night practices and the new people I met. I remember people from other student associations came and asked if I was okay and if there was anything they could do. Even though International Fiesta was a competition it brought people together at the end because we all shared the same stage. I would definitely do it again next year.