Season 3, Day 9: Is this working??

Sadly, our time Madrid is over and we are currently on the 3 hr TRAIN to Barcelona. Long time readers (both of you) will know that I’m a HUGE fan of traveling by train in Europe. (Woo,woo!!! 🚂 - lo siento - won’t happen again) Comfy reclining seats, fancy glass car doors that slide open as if they came from the Death Star, and a cafe stocked with some pretty darn good coffee and snacks?! What’s not to love!?! (Man I want to do one more train sound right now! 🤐)

Before we left Madrid, we enjoyed a big family dinner together at a nearby Italian restaurant. Twenty four people enjoying pasta, pizza, and light hearted conversation - a great way close the first chapter of our journey together. I’m so thankful for this group of students. They’ve really embraced the family dynamic of the class. They invite each other to events. They look out for each other. They tease each other when someone (it was Ryan) spills 15 lolly pops while getting on a busy train. (In fairness he thought it was one giant lolly and wasn’t prepared to manage so many at once.)  It’s hard to imagine this group didn’t know each other just 9 days ago!

After dinner, Garrett asked me an important question (as he tends to do) - Do I feel like I am “teaching” during this class? I’ve given this question some thought as well as a related question - Is this class working?  I have to say -Yes to both. Now this is not the typical “professor lectures at students” class format. I don’t administer quizzes or exams. I don’t hold office hours. I don’t really do anything that I normally do in a traditional class that I teach at the university. 

So what do I do? First and foremost, I recruit a group of capable, motivated, and crime free students (seriously, we background check). And not to toot my own horn (oh Lord, here comes that train sound urge again!!!), but I think I’ve done a fair job of identifying students who are up to this challenge. 

As far as teaching goes, I see my primary role as curating an experience and giving these students opportunities to learn. I’ve identified specific learning outcomes which I put in front of these students to keep them on track. I work with our vendor (CIEE - bless you!) to identify experiences that reinforce the learning outcomes. And then I let them loose. Students are simply asked to explore, observe and reflect on their observations. To survive in this foreign country, they MUST also get to know each other, be patient with each other, communicate, work together, and problem solve. These just so happen to be the professional skills that we try to promote in all classes as we know these are the things they will need to succeed as future healthcare providers (and humans). 

My first argument in support of me actually working/teaching during this class (and not just finding a clever loophole to travel Europe each summer whilst being paid) is that I’m tired. I feel like I’ve put in a good day of work each night. I also do a lot of counting heads, checking in on students, making sure they get from A to B, and just being available when needed (like a Jedi knight you might say….[insert 5 minutes of day dreaming].

My second (and strongest argument) - the students are learning. Not just getting good grades…learning. In 9 days, these students have learned:  

• What hostels look like in Europe (they can be lovely)
• The tenets of the Mediterranean lifestyle
• How to cook four new Spanish dishes (Gazpacho is a drink…confirmed)
• How to eat and order food in Spain
• How to navigate a food market in Spain
• How to communicate with someone who doesn’t speak English
• How to create ridiculous AI images of their professor that should never see the light of day outside their group chat (Credit: Collin)
• How the U.S. healthcare system compares to the Spanish universal system (spoiler alert: it doesn’t)
• How police, safety, and facilities & maintenance systems contribute to the healthcare system
• How empty some ICU units are in Spanish private hospitals 
• How to navigate a massive public transit system
• How to score tickets to an electronic music festival
• The amazing talents of Pablo Picasso and Goya
• A fair bit about the history of the Spanish royal family (very Game of Thrones like!)
• The brilliance and beauty of Spanish architecture 
• How Spaniards exercise and stay fit
• How to practice yoga
• The importance of packing lightly when traveling by train (still working on this one)
• How to travel in a large group (not easy)
• And how to live in a city of 3.5 million people (6.8 million in the greater metro - no big deal)

And I’m sure this is not an exhaustive list. These students have seen so much that I’ll never know about.  They are natural born explorers……and are now on their way to a new land where they will find Darth Vader, vanquish him and his followers, and bring peace to the galaxy!! (What happened?!? I think I dozed off.)  See you in Barcelona…

A sign in a local coffee shop sums it up “Madrid is always good vibes”

Yoga in the park. Footage of me doing a full headstand was unfortunately lost in a giant fire. 

A local physician explains how Spain’s universal healthcare system costs less, covers everyone, and results in better quality care. Maybe we should consider making a switch?

Ryan - Capable, motivated, no criminal history, Lolly pop guy. 

Season 3, Day 7: Slow your 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