Welcome to the Mel in Motion blog: a collection of guides, reflections, and resources on studying gastronomy, moving to Spain, and exploring Basque culture.
Why I’m Moving to Spain in My Mid-30s to Study Gastronomy
In just a few weeks, I’ll be boarding a one-way flight to Spain with two suitcases, a backpack, and a heart full of anticipation. This isn’t just a move abroad — it’s the beginning of a new chapter rooted in food, culture, and courage. But what does it really mean to start over in your mid-30s? Why Spain? Why now? And what happens when excitement and fear live side by side?
What Is Gastronomy? Food, Culture, and Why It Matters (to Me)
Gastronomy isn’t just cooking. It’s food in context: culture, sustainability, science, justice, and story. Here’s what it is, why it matters, and why I’m making it my life’s work.
gastronomy, what is gastronomy, food culture, food justice, gastronomy meaning, food sustainability, Basque food culture, gastronomy student
What I'm Studying This Semester and Why It Matters
What if graduate school weren’t only about a degree, but about transforming your life intentionally? This semester, I’m at the university in Spain studying gastronomy, but every course addresses something more profound: healing, justice, creativity, and care. From sensory perceptions to ethics of business, this is what I’m learning and why it’s transforming everything.
What Is Gastronomic Science?
Gastronomic Science blends the art of cooking with the rigor of research. Here’s how it’s shaping our understanding of food, flavors, and human experience.
Why I’m Moving to Spain
After years of working, healing, and dreaming, I’m finally moving to Spain. Here’s why I chose to take the leap…and everything I’m taking with me (and leaving behind).
Why I chose the Basque Culinary Center
After years of searching for the right path, I found a graduate program that felt made for me. Here’s why I chose the Basque Culinary Center to study Gastronomic Sciences.