Coming home with a new palate - trying new things

After a long day, I don’t necessarily want to venture into food that I might or might not like and would typically hesitate to spend money on a potentially unenjoyable meal when I could simply order something I know I’ll like. I wouldn’t say I was a picky eater before studying abroad, but my opportunities to try different foods felt limited at home when I simply ate to continue on my day.

This mindset changed for me while I lived in Spain for four months and I eagerly wanted to try new things (when in Rome, right?). While some states in the U.S. might have the privilege of living near an ocean, as a native Kansan I have been pretty underexposed to some things, such as seafood, and can’t say I see the appeal to eat it while residing in the landlocked state. With Spain and other countries that were new to me, however, I had the opportunity to try a variety of food such as fish and other oceanic creatures. This took some getting used to, but felt important to try while I was there. As I tried new things and realized that I actually liked them more than I thought, I started becoming more receptive to other foods that I had not given much thought to in the past. This included simple day-to-day things such as eggs and mushrooms, for example. In trying things that were way out of my comfort zone and were big leaps, I ended up having a much easier time with smaller steps.

I was incredibly privileged to try a wide variety of foods while staying in Spain and exploring Europe, and maintained the mindset that I should try everything at least once. This proved incredibly beneficial to me and was probably my biggest change coming back. Although I am still not particularly seeking out any seafood in Kansas, I am able to incorporate a lot more achievable items into my palate and feel that I can enjoy food much more than before. Appreciating a wider range of food is really not something I thought I would come home with, but is a change that I am happy to welcome into my life.

Studying abroad presents various opportunities for trying something new, whether it is an activity, different foods, or experiencing entirely new cultures. Some things may stick - such as my newfound appreciation of cuisine - or may quickly revert back to normal upon arrival. In my case, I was never too keen on eating my lunch at 2pm and dinner at 9pm which is typically very late compared to the US standard, so I was able to quickly readapt after coming home. Despite this, the overall experience depends on the willingness to take that leap and is something that it is ok to set boundaries for. I personally did not seek out US fast food chains while I was abroad, with the exception of the occasional airport McDonald’s to see what their menu was like, however, I had friends that went once a week in search of something familiar.

No matter the program or who you go with, everyone has different experiences and limitations during their time abroad. I’m glad I pushed myself to try new things and understood when others just wanted to have comfort food- a feeling I would undergo myself. Now that I am back home, I cook many more new items and am still thinking about some of the dishes I had while abroad. My appreciation for food has changed during my four months in Spain - something I could not have predicted - and I look forward to integrating my new mindset into my life.