On a crisp evening by the river, the Christmas market felt like a temporary world made of lights, roasted chestnuts, cider, and music. I walked through it thinking about seasonality, comfort, belonging, and how food spaces can hold you when you are far from home.

Yesterday was my first hard day abroad. Lonely, wobbly, human. Here’s what it felt like, what helped, and how I’m finding steadier ground.

I’m moving to Spain for a Master’s in Gastronomic Sciences. Mel in Motion is my honest record of food, culture, and slow courage.

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.

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.