Season 3, Day 7: Slow your dinner roll

Another beautiful day in paradise. 85 and sunny. And it’s Sunday which means it’s the weekend and my day off! (Ok, I can literally feel the eye rolls people…this teaching stuff is real work!!)

Sundays in Spain are meant for family, leisure (more than usual which is saying something), and if you practice - a trip to your local place of faith. I’ve also noticed Sundays are noticeably more relaxed than other days. So I wanted to dive in a bit on a philosophy known as ‘slow living’. (Cover your ears workaholics.)

Much of slow living comes from the slow food movement which was born in the 1980s in Italy by Carlo Petrini who passed away just last week. It is said Petrini started this movement in response to a McDonald’s being built next to the Spanish steps in Rome. It wasn’t that Petrini had “beef” with Ronny McDonald specifically (see what I did there?), but rather he opposed the idea of an industrialized food system that mass produces foods that are bad for human health and the environment. (Cue Homer Simpson: “Mmmmm…preservatives.”)  Rather, he argued in favor of policies that make good, clean, sustainable foods available to everyone. (Sorry Ronny, point goes to Petrini in my book.)

Eating slowly is generally recommended as a strategy to maintain a healthy weight. Slower, eating allows satiety hormones time to kick in and promote a sense of fullness before we finish that entire deep dish. (Well I guess that was the last notch on this belt…trash.) 

This pertains to the drinking culture as well. I’ve heard more than one Spaniard describe American drinking as a sprinting event whereas Spaniards treat it like a marathon. There may be some truth here. I watched an unhealthy amount of Looney Tunes as a kid and from what I recall, Cecil the turtle always seemed to beat the speedy Bugs Bunny, despite his methodical and arrogant style. (I learned a lot from that show………..)

Anyhoo, slow living goes beyond food. There’s an entire field of research on the health benefits of mindfulness and living in the moment. Mindful practice reduces stress and strengthens our immune system. It’s about being intentional with our daily tasks. Not always juggling 15 things at once. (I can type this email and mow the yard at the same time, right?) Being selective in the products we buy (sorry Five Below) while thinking about the environment we are leaving to future generations. It’s about choosing quality over quantity. 

I have observed a lot of this in practice in Spain over the last few days. Today, I went to the massive Rastro flea market which has been held every Sunday in Madrid since 1740! Local vendors sell gently used (or very used)  products to people who literally walk at a snail’s pace to ensure they don’t miss the deal of the day. (Dude, what do you think about this sleeveless fur coat? It’s only 15 Euro!) 

I ended my own 4 hr stroll through the market with a couple hydration tools (day beers) while watching some street performers belt out an inspired rendition of  Santana’s Oye Como Va. It was heartwarming to see so many people living in the moment, enjoying each other’s company, and dancing without inhibition. (Unfortunately, the video footage of me dancing was lost in a big fire. Sorry Bran! ❤️.) 

So slow your roll. Stop and smell the roses. And enjoy the view in your new-to-you sleeveless fur coat! (Don’t listen to the haters…it plays. 👊)

A few patrons enjoying a slow morning coffee whilst surrounded by flowers. Not bad. 

I already have this bag in blue, otherwise I’d jump on this deal!

The window of this gift shop reads “Handmade is the new future.” Oh hey, that’s me!

I wonder if they know Sweet Caroline?

 

Me JUST before my big dance number. 

Season 3, Day 5: On Commensality

Welcome back ya’ll! It’s hot here. Western Europe seems to be in a bit of a heat wave which makes the days feel like a hot yoga class and the nights feel like…a regular yoga class. I sweat pretty constantly and/but rarely pee. That’s healthy right?!  Right guys?!  Guys? 

Anyhoo… last time I wrote about the Mediterranean diet and how it is more than just eating healthy, but rather there is a social component to eating that just can’t be ignored.  “Commensality” is the practice of eating together.  Socio-cultural rules differ across the world and dictate who eats with whom, who decides the menu, who cooks, etc.. Douglas famously stated that in England “drinks are for strangers and hot meals are for close family and friends” (Douglas, 1972).  In Spain, it seems all things are for everyone, all the time. (Hey Bill, wanna get a glass of wine at Burger King at 11 am? You betcha! - That’s real.)

There’s a fair amount of research on this topic too! Eating together is linked to feelings of cohesion, sense of purpose, and happiness whereas solo dining is often linked to poor eating habits, isolation, and depression. There were many observations of this over the Covid pandemic when many were suddenly forced to eat alone.  I can also speak from personal experience that eating alone for three straight weeks in a foreign country sucks. (Una mesa para uno…[sniffle]…por favor. ☝️😢 🤦🏻‍♂️). And conversely, eating with friends and colleagues, in the exact same environment, has the complete opposite effect (Una mesa para veinte quatro por favor!!! Whooo!!!! 🙌🙌✋ 🎉🥳)

And I have to think this goes beyond just eating. In my humble opinion, most things are more enjoyable when shared with people. Going for runs - a curious behavior that many of my students seem to repeat on a daily - is much more palatable in a group. My students invited me to go on a run the other day and I accepted. (Now, I did quit halfway and walked to the bakery on the way home… but I did it with four other people, and it was glorious.)

And I’m very thankful that this group of students has picked up on this so quickly. They’ve been so inclusive, making sure all have opportunities to connect. Plus, the majority of these 24 students did not know single person prior to this trip. Now five days later, each of them has made 23 new friends (big flex). 

Over the past couple of days, we have shared many things together including meals, sweaty walks around the city (is this just me?), Flamenco shows, and most importantly, a few laughs. It’s the togetherness that makes this class work so well. Sharing experiences, no matter what the context, is what makes us human and brings us together. 

Juntos! (It’s not a swear! It means “together”…in Spanish…where we are! Come on guys, grow up.) 

Citati

While not included in the photo (thanks Garrett), I promise I was also running with the group at the beautiful Retiro Park. 

Team trek to the Royal Palace. Fun fact - the concrete kicks up the temp about a billion degrees. 

The Royal Table. The King and Queen sit at the two chairs that are slightly pulled out on both sides.

Una mesa para ciento (100)!!!! 

Garrett and I sharing a delicious bowl of ramen in Madrid. Don’t mind the unicorn light coming out of my head. Uggh, every time!

Students sitting in silence (together) at the Basilica of the Royal palace in Escorial Village. ❤️

Season 3, Day 3: An International Potluck!

James Beard said “Food is our common ground, a universal experience."   

Today we learned about the Spanish culinary experience, also known as the Mediterranean diet, and how this influences both the culture of Spain and the health of its residents.  The day started with a lecture from Professor Juan Pablo Pacheco who told us the history of the Mediterranean region including the influences of the Roman Empire (incredibly massive in its day) and the Islamic expansion (even bigger than the Roman Empire!) There is also Greek, Egyptian, Phoenician and American influence.  Essentially, we can think of the origin of the Mediterranean diet as a really long potluck party where everyone brought something different to the table. (Who brought the little smokies?! Oh, that was the Barbarians! You simply MUST get the recipe!)

The warmer, more southern regions brought wheat and fermented foods like olives, cheese, and wine (bless you!). In addition to being life of the party, this contribution was largely due to need as products like these do not last in warm environments and must be fermented in order to keep. And fortunately for us, fermented products are great for gut health! (Ok, so wine everyday…check.)  The northern regions (referred to as Barbarians during Roman times given their noon-Roman nature - not cool) brought the meat including pork and blood sausages. This is why jamon (dried ham) is such a staple in Spain today. 

Side story, during the Spanish Inquisition (1400-1800’s), in which the Catholic Monarchy strived to convert and/or expel Jewish and Muslim populations, these folks would hang large Jamon legs in their windows to avoid persecution. (Also not cool.) 

Back to the food…the Arabic regions brought the spice, flavors and rice. Hard to imagine having a decent paella without these things! And finally, the Americas brought things like tomatoes and potatoes. (Where would Spain be without its cold Gespacho soup/drink?) All in all, it’s a hell of a healthy dietary cocktail that we can now all enjoy!

After class, we trekked over to the vibrant neighborhood known as La Latina to visit their local food market. Most major neighborhoods in Madrid have a market that is filled with all of your major staples, including your meats, fruits and veggies, dry goods, seafood, sweets, and probably a kitchen sink (sorry no Mac ‘n Cheese Bran ❤️). While there, our guide Ernesto, encouraged us to try his favorite fruit which is known as a Nispero. This little fella is just bursting with flavor and can be described as a cross between a peach and a plum? (Big fan right here!)

We ended our day with a cooking class where we made a cold Gazpacho soup (I seriously don’t know if it’s a soup or a drink), Spanish tortilla (like a pan fried egg bake), Spanish paella (MVP!), and an almond flour cake for dessert. In the course of two hours, we made an entire meal for 25 people and were able to share it together. My students worked so well together, and we didn’t burn the place down! (You can nominate me for teacher of the year anytime.)

A big takeaway from today is that the Mediterranean diet is not so much a diet but more of a lifestyle. It’s certainly more than chugging gallons of olive oil and wine. (Sorry team!) The Mediterranean way of life is about eating the foods that are in season and now native to this region, sharing them with friends, getting outside, and moving around periodically. Fairly easy to do in Madrid but how one follows this lifestyle in the U.S. is not an easy answer, and what this team will wrestle with for the next two weeks. Cooking a meal with family and friends is a good small step in the right direction. I’ll bring the wine…you bring the lil smokies. 👊

Juan Pablo dropping knowledge on Spanish paella and its ingredients. Saffron spice (pistol of the flower) is more expensive than gold by weight.  Rabbits, however, are quite inexpensive and a common ingredient. Sorry lil buddy.

I spent the afternoon grading student’s blogs over a tasty Nispero fruit. Ok, and a beer…you caught me. Don’t judge me!

Pretty soon this will be in Gazpacho form. Seriously, is it a soup or is it a drink?! Someone tell me!!!

 An A+ meal created by an All Star team. (Chef’s kiss)

Season 3, Day 1: Revenge of the Jet Leg

Welcome back everyone (both of you)! I’m back in Spain to teach my class on Understanding Determinants of Health and Wellbeing for the third time folks. Our journey again begins in the capital of Madrid. After a few weeks of rain, Madrid has returned to her dry, warm nature. Flowers are in full bloom and the temp is in the mid 80’s…certainly warm enough to cook you in the sun but a lovely temperature as soon as you find that perfect table in the shade.

Day 1 of this adventure is all about beating jet leg, in any way that you can. And it can be a marathon! Only the strong survive!! Our 8 hr flight left Chicago at 5 PM and arrived in Madrid at 8 AM. If you’re lucky, you might catch a few Zzz’s on the plane, but this is not a given. I tried taking some melatonin for the first time, which made me drowsy, but my seat - located conveniently in front of the restroom - made sleep an impossible challenge. (Seriously dude, you’ve gone to the bathroom 4 times. Enough.) Subsequently, in place of sleep, I ended up binge watching old Star Wars movies. (Is Episode III: Revenge of the Sith the best one?! Maybe a good sign for this blog?)

The key to beating jet lag is to stay awake as late as you can on day one. This means staying busy, staying outside, staying hydrated, and avoiding chairs, beds, and all forms of relaxation as much as you can. Not an easy feat but I am fortunate this year to have a teaching assistant accompanying me on this trip! Garrett is a doctoral student in my lab and so far seems to be a more than capable space travel companion. In our quest to stay awake, Garrett and I bravely armed ourselves with a collection of hydration tools (day beers) and wondered the city for several hours. And by God it worked!  We made it to our 8 PM Welcome dinner with the team and blew up the Death Star! A one in a million shot kid!  (Ok maybe I went over board there but we did make dinner damn it!) 

And dinner was lovely! A three course meal with way too much food for our group of 25. The first course of appetizers included Russian salad (which is essentially potato salad with tuna), fried calamari (tasted like chicken) bread with olive oil and vinegar, and patatas bravas (always a fan favorite). I had the steak for my entrée while Garrett bravely attacked the squid. (We almost lost him.)  Dessert options included Greek yogurt with a raspberry sorbet (money), an apple cinnamon strudel, or cheese cake. A glass of white wine (vino blanco) to wash it all down…and I’m back fighting the Death Star!!!

 I need sleep. More adventures tomorrow…

“These are not the droids you’re looking for.”

In the war room/hotel wine cellar for Day 1 Orientation. 

Enjoying a couple light sabers and a lovely day in Madrid. 

May 2026: It’s Conference Season!

Well it’s been a minute… It’s May! Springtime in the Midwest, which means…hell it could mean anything really from a weather standpoint. Bitterly cold mornings? Sure! Hot, sweaty days? You bet. Tornadoes sprinkled with hail just for shits and gigs?!  Hop aboard! All natural disasters are welcome here. 

For some reason, spring is my least favorite season. I’m not really sure what it is. Maybe it’s the unforgivable weather? Or maybe the lack of any fun holidays? (I’m looking at you Easter!) 

Or maybe it’s the fact that late spring is an insanely busy time of year in academia and I’m just running on fumes?!  Last week of classes, final exams, final projects, seemingly endless hours of grading, grant deadlines, annual reviews, commencement…I got a lot of balls in the air people!!!

It’s also a transition period in which the exhausted academic begins to prepare for its summer hibernation. Hang up that corduroy jacket and bust out that Hawaiian shirt you should have thrown away 5 (ok 10) years ago! Put that text book you’ve been clinging to for 4 months back on the shelf and pick out a new guilty read! And for God’s sake, try to get some sleep old man! You deserve it. 

For me, I’m also adding a couple of conferences to the chaos so that I can present some of my latest research.  Spread the good news and all that… Conferencing is one of the perks of this line of work (in my humble opinion). It’s a chance to connect with old friends who you only see once per year, check out a new city, eat some moderately priced food (per diems can only take you so far), and take in some of the latest research in the field. This is the science that got you excited about this gig in the first place! 

Now while you may be picturing a conference as a mass gathering of nerds yammering on about protons and quantum physics… (Actually, that’s what I picture when I think about a physics conference.) Nerds! But in my field, conference folk can be fun folk! 

I recently had an opportunity to attend a conference in Chicago and reconnect with some friends who I haven’t worked with in over a decade, eat some amazing pasta, and even took in a White Sox game (go Tigers!).  And I must say it was motivating and invigorating! New ideas are taking shape that hopefully will lead to new knowledge and improved systems for keeping people healthy. That’s the goal anyway. 

And at this very moment, I’m sitting on the Riverwalk of San Antonio, listening to a guy give his best impression of Johnny Cash, and enjoying a delicious margarita and a trio of street tacos. (I’m actually here to share some of my recent research with some weight loss nerds, but when in Rome right?)  BTW, I fully realize the Riverwalk is tourism central here, but it’s pretty easy to get sucked into her charms. I’m a sucker for tasty margaritas, twinkle lights, street tacos, outdoor seating, shade trees, live music, regular tacos, and a lazy river. I never stood a chance.

Ironically, I almost forgot to go to the Alamo…almost. It’s…ok. No tacos but I appreciate the historical relevance.  

Ok, I feel like I’m rambling (damn you margarita). In an attempt to tie a bow on this yarn, I’ll end by saying I think these conferences are actually really important to the scholarly process. In addition to the science and sharing of ideas, they bring overworked, like-minded people together and give them a real chance to relax and connect. Human beings need time to recover. We can’t always be expected to do more with less. I very much look forward to the recesses of conference season…the best part of spring. 

Sharing our work with dozens of people. 

 Go friends!! (And go Tigers!!)

The Alamo. It’s ok.

❤️

Jan 2026: Strikes and Gutterballs

It’s January. It's cold and regretfully we are without snow here in the Midwest. Winter without skiing just feels wrong. It’s been said that bowling is a winter sport. Let’s stick with this theme today. 

The past couple of months have been a bit of a roller coaster for me career wise. “Strikes and gutter balls” as The Dude would say. In terms of gutter balls, I won’t go into the details, but there’s always some level of disappointment in academia. It’s a field, where you and your work are constantly being evaluated. Papers get rejected, grants go unfunded, proposals are denied. Thick skin is a must to survive. With rejection often comes a lot of self reflection. And it’s easy to fall into the Impostor syndrome trap. 

After my most recent bout with rejection, however, I oddly don’t feel like an imposter. I actually feel more confident in myself and my capability. This experience has also had an impact on my motivation. Not necessarily a negative impact. Just an impact on what motivates me.  I find myself asking what the next step is for my career.  To this point in my career, I’ve always been looking for the next thing. Always reaching. And admittedly, doing some things simply for the sake of adding it to my résumé.

But now I’m wondering if I’m at a point where I should stop doing things solely for the sake of padding my stats. Rather, focus on the things that I find rewarding and impactful.  This is a difficult thing to consider however!  The American work culture is one that constantly pushes individuals to continually keep working harder, to achieve more, and to be efficient in the process. It’s easy to feel like a failure if you are not always running this race.

Putting those feelings aside, if I were to stop and think about the things I most enjoy about my work life, so many things come to mind. It’s extremely rewarding to work with students on a daily basis. The energy they bring is just infectious. I love the opportunities I have to be creative. I get to ask and answer new questions. I get to create new knowledge. I love building programs and seeing the impact that comes with organizing a group of humans towards a singular mission. 

That’s a lot of strikes! And if I know anything about bowling (I actually don’t but stick with me), the strikes are the things that stick with you. The things that bring joy. You don’t have to be perfect to enjoy the game.  Just a few lucky rolls and friends to share the experience with. 

“I’m throwin’ rocks tonight!” - Donny 

October 2025: Moving on Up?

October! Arguably the best month of the year! Especially in the Midwest. Temperatures are finally coming down and fall colors are in bloom. AND it’s Friday morning! My absolute favorite time of the week. Friday mornings have a very chill vibe about them. It’s technically a workday but it’s usually more relaxed. It’s easy to look forward to a weekend of relaxation, time with loved ones, and for many in this Big Ten town…college football. 

I’m enjoying my Friday morning by sitting here with a fresh cup of coffee on my porch and hanging with Otis. (Otis, our golden doodle, loves slow mornings more than I do!)  My first meeting isn’t till 10 so I have some time. I’m lucky and I fully appreciate my fortune. 

My wife on the other hand has a real job. By “real job”, I mean your traditional 9 to 5. She works at a hospital and is absolutely our breadwinner. In the 11 years we’ve lived in this town, she’s been promoted five times! (I’ve been promoted once in that time but who’s counting?)  And she’s incredible. She has an engine that never turns off, a positive spirit, and I have to imagine she’s fun to be around in the office. 

When we moved here, she was the trailing spouse. Now, the one luxury college professors don’t have is being picky in where they get to live. You go to where the universities are located. (Fortunately, I happen to LOVE college towns - best energy.)  If we were to move again, however, I would be the one following. And that shift has been an interesting experience. My ego has to be put aside. Any decisions we would make would be in the best interest of our family. So if I have to be a barista on the coast of California, so be it! ;)

It’s more common for people in business and industry to bounce around, move up the ladder, and make more money. That brings me to the second luxury college professors don’t have…the ability to make excessively large amounts of money. The money is not bad by any means. In fact, studies have shown the correlation between income and happiness is strongest at around $80k per year as opposed to $800k/year. And it may be a cliché to say, but I am not strongly driven by money. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy a 2% raise as much as the next guy (why are you laughing?), but if I were in this for the money, a college professor I would not be. (I’d probably be like a….business scientist or something. I actually don’t even know if that’s a thing. I’ll stop.)

I am trying to get promoted though you know. It’s not like I don’t have ambition! But in the world of academia, promotions are much less frequent occurrences. For example, if I were to be promoted five times like my wife, I could honestly be the president of the university (maybe the academic world!). In the world of academia, it’s common to be an assistant professor for six years before going up for promotion to associate (oooh fancy!).  That first promotion often times comes with something called “tenure”. Now tenure is not a free pass to do whatever the hell you want for the rest of your career. You still have to do the basic duties (teach, research, service) and it is possible to get fired if you do something really bad. But what tenure offers is academic freedom. Being able to explore unknown topics, even if they’re controversial…without government oversight. (Cough…Vaccine therapy, critical race theory…cough, cough.) 

I was promoted to the associate level after six years. Now six years later, I’m trying to be promoted to “full professor” (double fancy!). In order to get there, however, I have to demonstrate that I have an “international reputation” for my scholarship. How you go about defining that is not always clear but my portfolio (which is well over 100 pages in length…thank you very much) is reviewed by no less than 20 full professors from my own institution and from other peer universities. It’s required that you publish that research regularly in good journals, and that others around the world read and cite your research. I also have to be a good teacher and mentor, and conduct a lot of service for my university and the profession.  The process takes around a year to complete. And at the end (if I’m invited to the club) it means…well I’m not sure really. A little more money (hello 5% raise!?) and a new and ironically shorter title (Professor vs Associate Professor). For me personally, it also means that I’ve achieved the highest professional level for a professor… which is nice. ;) Promotion to Full Professor could also open doors to future leadership/administration positions if that were ever of interest. (More on this later.) 

For now, I wait to learn my professional fate. Have I done enough?   If yes, then I’ll be buying that Kirby vacuum I’ve had my eye on. If not, oddly nothing really happens beyond the personal embarrassment. I don’t lose my job. I just stay at the same level and live to try again I suppose. Either way, I anticipate this will be a time for some deep reflection on the next chapter. 

Otis and coffee, Friday morning.