My most memorable time with food was a marathon of discovering, cooking and eating that ensued during my visit to Spain last semester to see my friend Kristin over half-term break. We are hometown friends that share a mutual passion for food. I landed in Madrid at 8pm. We began our search for munchies at 8:01.
It started as a simple bag of jamon flavored chips and turned into an entire late night meal. We fumbled together a delicious Spanish omelet with the leftover eggs from the carton we accidentally spilled upon the floor. Crackling oil, simmering the garlic and onions was soon joined by thinly sliced potatoes and a healthy mashing later the eggs were added. The was the first of three Spanish omelets we made over a five day period. Not only did the meal fill me up, but it spawned a several hour discussion late into the night.
Although the rest of my visit was supposed to show me the various places in Madrid and immerse me in the Spanish culture, it truly focused on the varied nosh the city offered. Kabop sandwiches, tapas, paella, churros, pastries, empandas. The list was endless. We ate at every meal. We ate when there was no meal and we ate to pass the time. When most girls would find pleasure in clothes shopping, my friend and I went shopping for food. Scanning aisles, trying samples, reading labels. We put together our meals more than we ate out. It had a homey feel even though most of the eats were foreign to me. My favorite was our tapas night with sangria. We enjoyed it so much, the pair of us replicated it this summer for the rest of our friends. Furthermore, I made it for my family and my friends here at URI.The time we spent eating in Madrid was unlike any other experience I've had. After most trips I remember people, what they said and where we went. Photos from my sightseeing. Funny moments frozen in time. But from this excursion, I recall the sweet tang of sangria; the chewy churros drenched in thick chocolate; the smooth texture of the tortilla; the sounds of cooking and the laughter during each of our meals. It is truly a palpable memory, encoded on my tongue and flooding my nostrils to this day.
Although I have traveled abroad to many places two weeks is the longest I have ever been in one place. I do not think that a week or two weeks is enough to really emerge yourself into the culture of another place. I feel as though when you are only in a place for a short amount of time you can’t help but only experience the tourist point of view. For this reason I really enjoy reading all of your blog posts. I did not study abroad, so I almost feel like I am living the experience through your words. You do a great job at making the reader really feel as if they are there with you. I am able to sense how much you enjoyed your experience and how much you got out of it. You really got to experience the culture and escape from the tourist experience.
ReplyDeleteThis post made me hungry! It's cool that you still made your own food while your were abroad. It is also great that you could come back to America and show off your new cooking talents! Traveling has an effect on all different aspects of a person's life, and now you can show off the knowledge you acquired during your trip!
ReplyDeleteI loved your post about Madrid. Being abroad is obviously about seeing new landmarks and places but I would have to say at least 50% of going to another country is about tasting the food. I love how you embellished on the food aspect of Madrid rather than the beautiful places it has to offer. Food in other countries is a fascinating thing and people should definitely not be ashamed in saying their interest was the cuisine more so than any sight seeing spot!
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