Barcelona

Hola a todos! It’s been over a month now in Madrid so now that everyone is getting settled into the lifestyle it seems like the honeymoon period is ending for some, and more and more people are finding themselves overwhelmed with work, homesickness, or feeling down in general. Personally, being a senior looking into graduate school, this fall semester for me is all about applying to programs and setting myself up for the next chapter of my life. Whether it’s grad school, internships, family matters, or anything else, it can be hard to deal with “real life” while abroad. Because so many of my friends are experiencing hard times in dealing with the stress of it all, I thought it would be a good topic for this week.

When studying abroad it’s very likely you’ll experience a strong honeymoon period when you first arrive and are exploring everything your city and country have to offer. After this period, some people experience hard times in adjusting to life abroad when combined with responsibilities back home. Hopefully you’ll ease out of the honeymoon period and continue just enjoying your time in your location but if you don’t, that’s totally ok and very common! There are a couple of things we can do to help ourselves have a better time and manage our responsibilities both in our study abroad programs and back at home. 

If your stress is induced by applications—internships, work, graduate school, etc.—then time management is EVERYTHING. It’s really easy to get carried away in the day-to-day fun stuff, but if we want to stay sane we have to make time for work too. Personally I think it’s best if you designate a specific day and/or time to take care of the work from home that you might forget otherwise. Once you set aside time to work, respect your time!! A lot of times people schedule time to work and then just don’t work...trust me, I’ve been there. That is so self-destructive though because not only do you not have your work done, you also wasted time and will probably feel bad about yourself for doing that. Even if it’s not the most productive work session, getting a little bit of work done is better than none, and will help you a lot in the long run. 

If your stress is family related, then that is a little more complicated. There are so many possible scenarios in which family can add stress to your life I can’t even begin to address each one. The general advice I’d give however, is to communicate how you’re feeling. If you feel comfortable communicating directly with your family, awesome! If not, there are many counseling resources out there, some even sponsored by IES Abroad, that can help a lot in just listening or also providing guidance in how to address your specific situation. 

Wherever your stress is coming from, remember to look at the bigger picture! You were given an amazing opportunity to experience a different culture and meet so many new amazing people and try new things. It’s normal to get stressed sometimes, just don’t let it ruin your time because this is time we won’t be getting back. Perspective is truly one of the underrated concepts in dealing with stress. Keep an open mind and don’t get caught up in the little nuisances of life, because you won’t even remember them in a few months. What you will remember is the amazing time you had exploring a new culture and the many extraordinary experiences that came with that. Sending good vibes to anyone who is struggling. It’s gonna be ok, you got this, and practice some perspective!

Eating to live or living to eat? The difference can get blurred in today’s time of foodies and social media.

I think we can all agree that food is an integral part of human survival; however, it’s not only about the nutrition it provides. In fact, food and eating habits reveal so much about culture and identity. "Food as an Expression of Culture" is a course I am taking through IES Abroad in Barcelona. As a class, we’ve learned how culture and identity are relevant to food because they influence every choice and decision we make and discussed how our food preferences are shaped by our culture, life experiences, and those around us. As I took note of what and how I ate during my last 5 weeks in Spain for a paper, I was pleasantly surprised by just how much I’ve learned about the culture from eating their delicious foods!

Since a big part of studying abroad for me was to immerse myself into a different culture, I made a serious effort to step out of my comfort zone and try new foods. So far, I’ve tried patatas bravas, ensaladilla rusa, gambas al ajillo, calamari, bikini, bocadillo de queso manchego, and paella marisco. I enjoyed all the new flavors. The paella especially had me coming back for more as all the flavors from the vegetables, seafood, and spices came together over an open fire (words cannot do it justice). Aside from the paella, the other dishes listed are tapas. They’re smaller-portioned dishes that you and I would think of as appetizers. While visiting different restaurants, I noticed that most tables would order a couple tapas to share amongst the table.

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At restaurants, you would also notice the stark different in the pace of service. The atmosphere is very relaxed, and the waiters aren’t hovering over you asking if everything is good every five minutes. Contrary to how we tend to order, eat, and leave in a span of half an hour, the Spanish practice what is referred to as a sobremesa. This is the Spanish tradition of relaxing at the table after a meal that can last for half an hour or even over an hour. They are not in a rush to leave, and the waiters aren’t in a rush to hurry them along either. The sharing of tapas and sobremesa both promote sociability during mealtimes. Contrary to how we tend to eat on the go or leave the restaurant as soon as we are done, the Spanish view meals as time set aside to spend with family and friends.

As I have been taking it all in (literally, into my tummy), I have come to appreciate the Spanish view on meals and mealtimes especially with my Korean background. Food plays a big role in the Korean culture and society. Koreans greet each other by asking “Have you eaten?” When someone is sick, you ask, “Have you eaten?” Food is a love language in Korea. It’s how you show those around you that you care about them. I had almost forgotten about my own cultural lens that shapes my perspective on food, but being in Spain seems to have reawakened this part of my identity.