A collection of guides, reflections, and resources on Gastronomy and Life in Spain.
The Perfect Birthday I Didn't Plan: Four Days, One Celebration, and the Gift of Being Exactly Where I Am
Sometimes the universe conspires in your favor in ways you could never orchestrate. My birthday this year didn't just fall on a day…it fell on the eve of San Sebastián's biggest celebration, the Tamborrada, gifting me a four-day weekend and a cascade of moments that reminded me exactly why I'm here.
I spent it wandering alone through morning streets, treating myself to an omakase dinner at Kai Sushi, sipping a mezcal martini at the legendary Dry Bar in Hotel Cristina (where staff surprised me with champagne and cake), meeting friends for craft beer at Baga Biga Faktoria, and walking home along the quiet Urumea River. When I arrived, a gift from friends back home waited on my doorstep, tangible proof that love travels across oceans.
This is the story of celebrating a birthday abroad: grateful and homesick, solo and surrounded, honoring both the life I chose and the people I miss. Because pursuing a master's degree in a foreign country means learning to hold contradictions, and finding beauty in both.
The Story Behind Mel in Motion
When I chose the name Mel in Motion, it wasn’t just about moving abroad. It was about healing, curiosity, and courage. And a promise to myself to keep growing. Here’s what the name means and why it matters.
What does “motion” mean to you in your own life? Have you ever chosen a name (for a project, a journal, or a dream) that captured more than just words?
Why I Chose Gastronomy As a Healing Path
This isn’t just a career change. It’s a healing process. Here’s why I chose gastronomy as my way forward. And why food is helping me build a life that finally feels like mine.