Today we sit down for an interview with Carmen Albescu, Vallaki's very own wearer of many hats! Charity organizer, hostess of the White Lily, baker, tailor, herbalist, and now a manager at the reopened Gaping Wound tavern, doamna Albescu certainly keeps busy. Doamna Albescu took some time out of her busy schedule to sit down with the Vallaki Review and discuss her upcoming Winter Festival, as well as other projects she is currently working on.
Interviewer: Anamaria Cosovei
Note: The order of questions and their related answers have been rearranged for readability.
Only a few days after this issue's publication, doamna Albescu will be hosting a festival in celebration of Vallaki's traditional winter festival, right in the Citadel, the safest part of Vallaki.
Q: Can you start us off by explaining what the Winter Festival is and how it works, for outsiders who may be unfamiliar with our local traditions?
The turn of the year is as important to us Barovians as it is to many other people of the Core. New beginnings, leaving behind the worries and hardships of the last year, or simply reminiscing about the good memories we've had. Though it is not usually celebrated in a grand scale, I know most of us grew up with our mothers preparing a special dinner come the late of Dekavr. While it is held in the halls of some of our Burgomeisters and nobles' mansions, I figured this year Vallaki needs one for the people. And what better way to spend a cold winter's day, than drinking merry with friends, enjoying dancing to the tunes, eating good food and hoping for a better year to come greet us?
Q: What did your own family like to make in late Dekavr? (Readers, mine was fond of porridge. Very sad.)
Pomana porcului, or pork's charity as it's named in Common. For those who do not know, it's basically a stew cooked in a cauldron with a variety of pork bits, served with garlic sauce and polenta. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it.
Q: (So was I.) Now, on to more serious topics. Tell us a bit about yourself.
Myself.. I am quite boring, I'm afraid. I am the hostess of the White Lily, a place in the basement of Houlgrave's Books & Rarities in the Residential District. I'm quite lucky that I get to be able to run the place. It's a place for those to gather, for either spending time together, or discuss pieces of literature, arts, and so on. I also hope to be able to properly serve my guests, so the White Lily will have a bakery addition soon! Other than that.. I live in the slums, with my mother, I take care of her. Whatever I earn from the many jobs I work, I try to give the excess back to those in need.
Q: The posters say all earnings will go to those in need. I'd like to learn a little more about the charity aspect of the festival.
I hoped a day of celebration will open up means to help those in need. My main goal for setting this up was gathering donations, beyond having a joyous day. I wish for people to have a good time, but also keep those who cannot in remembrance, and pitch in to this charity cause. First on our list is the Orphanage. Kids grow, and so do their needs. As well as the people of the slums. I live in the slums myself, and it breaks my heart to see our homes in such state. If our donations can help a little bit, I'd be happy.
Q: Handling charity must be a difficult process. How do you make sure it gets distributed in the best way possible?
On that note, I'm in collaboration with the Guards. They will of course oversee everything, as a tax needs to be paid even from donations earned as well. Depending on the amount raised, it'll be the deciding factor on how it is split. I also ask people where they would like their donations to go to, which I take into account. But...the priority would be the orphanage.
Q: Charity is sort of a matter of trust, and expecting that the person is going to handle the funds better than you could, right?
I am very grateful and honored that people have trusted me with this so far. I will not betray that trust.
Q: It sounds like the Vallaki Garda will be involved in making sure the donations are spend responsibly. How else are people getting involved in helping with this event?
Currently my official associates are the Red Vardo Traders, the Vallaki Guards, and the Morninglordian Church for this occasion, currently. The Red Vardo have been extremely generous, offering to cover the costs of the festivities, which has helped a lot since I am not a woman of riches myself.
The Vallaki Guards, specifically Corporal Olinescu and Lance Corporal Florescu.. this wouldn't be happening without them! They allowed us to use the courtyard grounds, and both of them are great men, that has been supportive and helpful through every step, with ideas and more. They will be keeping all of us safe throughout the celebration too so...cannot thank them enough.
The Morninglordians reached out, asking if they could celebrate their own holiday with us on that day, as the times are very close to each other. Dawnspear Yeira's a kind woman, who has provided me with many great ideas! And I think their hopeful outlook on things will make our night brighter that day.
Q: What convinced you to give something of this scale a try, instead of just hoping someone else would handle it?
I had an inkling feeling no one would.
I feel extremely lucky with all that I've managed to earn, and it feels wrong to keep it all to myself. I hope to see people smile, I suppose. I was conversing with Lance Corporal Blair Florescu, asking him for opinions and suggestions on what kind of gatherings I can hold at the Lily. A charity event...and he suggested doing it at the Citadel as part of winter celebrations! That's why the scale went big.
Q: So the Garda reached out to you to help?
Yes! I am grateful to them, really. If Lance hadn't mentioned it, we wouldn't be having a festival. Corporal Olinescu allowed the usage of the Courtyard too, and even helps me with decorations himself.
Q: How did you manage to accomplish making a living for yourself, and all you've managed to earn?
I am not rich, per se. The festival is sponsored by the Red Vardo Traders, for example! They are generous and willing, asking nothing in return. I wouldn't be able to fund it all alone. I also cannot NOT mention the donations of other people. I myself, well. I work many jobs. I save up all that I can, and spend it only on the Lily's rent and other costs similar to it.
I work as a cleaning lady at the Citadel, a courier for the warehouse, I gather herbs while doing courierwork and sell those, I worked at a tailor, I am currently starting work at an inn.
Q: That's a lot of jobs.
Yes...though up until now I have earned nothing from the Lily. I do not plan to, either. Though I wish to add a bakery section within, to make it easier for the place to support its costs.
Q: Tell us a bit more about the White Lily and your other endeavors. How successful has the White Lily been, as another one of your charity projects?
The Lily has not contributed in a manner of fangs before. We've done non-profit meetings for teaching people how to read, educative lectures in poem writings, and book clubs, as well as artist gatherings.
Q: Why is it important people learn how to read, or learn about poems and art?
Not many have the time to spend on arts and poems and paintings in Vallaki--we have, quite frankly, more important things to do. However, people also never have the opportunity to learn, if they never wish to. So, I wanted to provide the opportunity. I myself offered reading lessons and others contributed with art meetings and poems, like domn Cezar Paslaru and domn Arsene l'Hopital. I open up the Lily's doors to everyone who wants to hold something there, within reason of course.
I think if anyone can find some respite from all the worries they have in their lives, through anything the Lily can provide...that's enough of a reason to keep going.
Q: Back to the festival, how are you feeling about it, now that the festival is almost here?
I am...nervous. No matter how many gatherings I hold, being before a crowd is still terrifying, and also being responsible for their enjoyment, as well as the whole charity aspect. But, I am excited, equally if not more so.
Q: What comes next for you?
The Bakery at the Lily will open, and with that, gatherings will continue! I'll focus on trying to do more there, until another festival time rolls around.
Q: Alright, we started on the topic of food, let's end on the topic of food. You mentioned you were working on opening a bakery at the White Lily. Any particular pastries you are most excited about?
...Almond cookies.
Q: Who will be doing the baking? Do you have any secret recipes? (I was hoping to learn one.)
I'll be doing the baking. As the only daughter of my family, and living with my working aunt, I had to learn how to cake and cook! I am more intuitive than a recipe follower, but I'm working on perfecting my own recipes.
Readers, we look forward to reporting on the event, as well as the grand opening of the White Lily's bakery. You can expect both our pastry review and the reviews of those we find on opening day!
