I have many times received — and never quite understood — the advice to “slow down” and “take a breath.” To me, this has always seemed like a waste of time and energy, a fake solution I was sold to fix all my problems. However, my experience abroad has taught me that the pace at which we choose to live life entirely transforms the quality of our experiences.
When we spend our lives rushing from one thing to the next and solving one problem after another, we face a constant struggle — chasing a sense of fulfillment that feels unattainable. To slow down, ever so slightly, is to absorb every moment of your life and discover so much enjoyment that otherwise goes unnoticed.
At The University of Texas at Austin, although I have countless blessings to appreciate — amazing friends, a supportive family back home, rewarding organizations, and a fantastic education — I find myself hurrying toward a certain point, such as the end of midterms or the next break. This mindset seems to put me on autopilot as I skate through life, just rushing toward the next thing.
During my time abroad, the most valuable insight I have gained from Spanish culture is how to slow down, and I’ve already witnessed the prominent impact on how fully I experience life. The most obvious way to see this in action is at any given restaurant here in Seville, Spain. Back home, a meal is generally just checking a box or the precursor to another activity, but Spanish people treat every meal as an occasion.
You hardly ever see people here grabbing food to go or scrolling on their phones while they wait. Everyone lingers, taking pleasure in time spent with their friends or family. In fact, the waiters don’t consistently return to your table to ask if you need something. While for American visitors, this can feel strange and inefficient, for locals it is entirely natural. I’ve found it’s vastly important to embrace this opportunity, among others, to adapt to the Spanish pace of life.
This Spanish rhythm of life is crucial to forming deeper human connections, and I’ve clearly seen its impact through my very own study abroad group: 19 students from the same area of study and mostly the same year. Besides a few people who knew each other previously, we began our journey as complete strangers. I often wonder how our paths never crossed before this trip.
In Austin, the constant rush from one responsibility to the next left these friendships waiting to be discovered. In Spain, the relaxed rhythm of life has allowed us to sit together, spend time together, and ultimately build relationships that might never have formed otherwise. With a six-week program and two classes, it would’ve been convenient to maintain our typical fast-paced lifestyle. We could have chosen the checklist method: go to class, eat, attend our excursions, study, sleep, and repeat, but instead we chose the better route.
To adapt to Spanish culture, our group probably spends more than half our time together sitting around a table. This may seem counterintuitive to the outside perspective of “making the most” of our study abroad experience, but our leisurely, extended meals have brought so much closeness and so many memories to our friendship.
Of course, we still explore and sightsee constantly, but it’s the Spanish-style meals that have allowed us the time and space to get to know one another on a deeper level. These profound connections make every activity that much more meaningful and memorable because I’m no longer traveling with strangers; I’m cherishing precious time with a close group of friends.
My final takeaway from studying abroad is that too much of life is missed when we are rushing toward something, even if we don’t realize it’s happening. Simply by embracing a new culture and trying to live more like the Spanish people, I have gained perspective on my own pace of life.
Memories and sincere friendships have formed that will not be forgotten. Though it’s a slightly obnoxious cliché, it truly is worthwhile to slow down, even just for a meal, and take time to form and appreciate profound human connections and experiences that could change your life.
This blog was contributed by Avery Riek, Global Ambassador for Summer 2026. Avery is a College of Natural Sciences sophomore participating in the faculty-led program “Evolution: An International and Cultural Perspective” in Seville, Spain.
