Hi, I’m Mel.
I'm a writer, student, and seeker who believes food is a gateway into culture, justice, and connection. After years of piecing together a life shaped by resilience, creativity, and healing, I’m beginning a new chapter in Spain, studying Gastronomic Sciences in San Sebastián.
For most of my life, I’ve been guided by curiosity and a hunger for meaning. My background is in IT and communications, but food, culture, and storytelling have always been my compass. In my mid-30s, I made the decision to begin again. To leave behind familiar ground in Florida and pursue a Master’s degree in Gastronomic Sciences at the Basque Culinary Center. This move is about more than school; it’s about weaving together my passions for food, justice, creativity, and self-discovery into a life that feels fully aligned.
I carry with me the realities of being neurodivergent, a trauma survivor, and a caregiver. I want to share honestly about what it means to start over with those layers. Mel in Motion is my living archive: part personal essay, part study notes, part cultural diary. It’s where I’ll chronicle both the joy and the mess of moving abroad, learning languages, exploring food systems, and growing into this next season of life.
This site is my living archive; part personal essay, part journal of the field, part creative experimentation space. I’ll take you along as I navigate the process of moving from the United States to Northern Spain, start school for the first time since 2012, and explore everything San Sebastian-Donostia has to offer. You’ll find me roaming neighborhood markets, hiking beautiful mountains, journaling in cafes, practicing yoga, and doing my best to create video content, too.
If you're rebuilding, reimagining, or realigning your life as well, I'm glad you're here.
“I’m studying Gastronomic Sciences in Spain because I believe food is knowledge, culture, and justice. This site is where I share resources, research, and reflections to help others making bold changes too.”
Quick Facts
From: Tallahassee, Florida, USA
Lived: Chicago, Tampa, Tallahassee
Currently studying: Master’s in Gastronomic Sciences at the Basque Culinary Center
Credentials: Bachelors of Science from FSU; Certified Yoga Teacher; Notary Public
Former life: IT + communications, yoga teacher, creative projects founder
Neurotype: Late-diagnosed ADHD, proud neurodivergent lens
Passions: Yoga, food culture, storytelling, social justice, healing, outdoor adventures
Creative mode: Writer, content creator, digital experimenter
Sun sign: Capricorn
Fun Fact: I was in band for 13 years. Played the clarinet! Marching Band, Orchestra, Tri-State; I did it all!
Why I Am Moving to Spain
Spain, and the Basque Country in particular, has called to me as a place where food and culture are inseparable from community.
San Sebastián is a city where gastronomy is woven into daily life, from pintxos bars to markets to world-class culinary research.
I chose the Basque Culinary Center because it represents everything I’m seeking: a rigorous, creative, and socially conscious approach to food.
For me, this move isn’t just about studying. It’s about immersing myself in a culture that values food as a way of life.
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It’s the exploration of food from all sides. Think: culture, politics, ecology, tradition, innovation, and sensory discovery. It integrates research and narrative, critical thinking and bodily engagement. It's not culinary school; it's systems thinking through the lens of food.
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Spain, and especially the Basque region, offered the right combination of depth, rhythm, and cultural richness. After years of burnout in the U.S., I needed a place where I could slow down and study something that mattered. I didn’t just need new skills; I needed a new way of being.
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Open to collaborations of mutual focus; especially those that act at the intersection of food, health, culture, or systems transformation. Would be great to connect if that’s you!
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Not yet, but please know I am working on it! For now you can begin at the Gastronomy & Grad School blog, or peruse Why I Chose Gastronomy.
What I Value
At the heart of everything I do are values that keep me grounded:
Justice & Equity: Centering voices and communities often left behind.
Curiosity: Asking questions, following wonder, never stopping at the surface.
Compassion: Moving through life with intention, kindness, and respect.
Creativity: Treating life itself as an experiment in expression.
Resilience: Honoring the hard parts of my story while building something new.
