Delanie Tasto: Blog Post #3
A Journey of Growth, Culture, Connection & Change
I have officially been in Barcelona for two months now and have gotten into the flow of the new environment, as well as a consistent schedule. It has been more than rewarding, as I have experienced so many new pieces of different cultures. I had the incredible opportunity to go to Nazaré for the WSL Big Wave Surf Competition, which has been a dream of mine for years. I was disconnected from the world as I sat on the side of the cliff with the water from the 30-foot waves spraying into me. Sitting there in disbelief of my reality, I felt so content and at peace watching the waves, with no idea what’s next on the horizon.
Back in Barcelona, I finally obtained my 3 month T-Mobilitat metro card and now feel like a local. After completing my midterms, I’ve realized that the educational experience here has been above par — the teachers love to incorporate students into the learning process for a very versatile experience within the classroom. For Valentine’s Day, I went to visit my best friend from home and my family who lives in Florence. This weekend taught me a lot about living in the moment and the wholesome feeling of being surrounded by the ones you love. I experienced this even further when I went to the Uffizi Museum and saw The Birth of Venus, my favorite art piece of all time. I sat in front of it for a good 30 minutes, observing every inch of the painting and noticing parts I’ve never seen before. Such as the little gold embellishments within the shell and her hair. This reminded me that the devil is in the details — and to never cut yourself short on observation time.
It’s hard to realize when you are living in the moment that these experiences will eventually shape your outlook on life and define the person you are becoming. However, I remind myself that you don’t realize you’re in the moment until it’s a memory.
This mindset carried into my next adventure to Morocco. This experience of meeting new people and being immersed in new cultures fulfilled a part of my heart forever. The car ride was long, filled with naps and hours of conversation. We became friends with the people on our bus and learned a little bit about each individual’s life. Reinforcing the theme of SONDER within this entire trip. I grounded myself the morning we arrived in the Sahara and did a yoga flow before we ventured into the sand dunes. We then did the infamous camel rides, led by the kindest tour guide, who made us fall even more in love with Africa. Waking up for those sunrises taught me to slow down and take in the little moments I have with myself, pushing the boundaries of my personal growth. Overall, the hardest journey has been learning to sit still in these moments in a world that never stops moving.Culture is something that cannot be fully taught within a classroom — it takes the courage to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, where you are forced to adapt and face the curve balls that come with it. This entire experience has broadened my perspective and deepened my appreciation of different cultures and food. Barcelona encapsulates the slower pace of life and teaches us to be content while becoming as it shows us the beauty of blooming slowly. As a home isn’t found, but it’s slowly built over time. Teaching us that the peace you have been searching for is truly within.
