From our Alumni Association
I consider a good meal a wonderful way in which to connect with people. The very act of passing steaming platters of homemade food, sharing forkfuls of a rich dessert and getting to know someone across a table nourishes both the stomach and the soul.
I was fortunate to experience this in December when I visited the UD Global Scholar students studying at St. Louis University in Madrid. Along with Amy Foley, UD Associate Director of Global Outreach, we gathered for a study break at El Faro residence hall to eat warm, chewy churros dipped in hot chocolate sauce, and also met for tapas prior to a flamenco show. I got to know these smart, passionate Blue Hen freshmen and was so impressed with the way they made Madrid their home for the fall semester.
In between all of this eating, I toured the city with Hailey Zirkle, AS20, who took me to El Mercado de San Miguel, where I couldn’t eat enough chorizo-stuffed olives. I admired her knowledge of the city’s culture and history. Another student, Ellie Canning, AS20, led me through the Prado art museum and provided historical insight into many Goya paintings and described some of the characters in Hieronymus Bosch’s vivid Garden of Earthly Delights.
I also enjoyed café con leche with several UD alumni living and working in Madrid, and we talked about what they missed on campus. Another evening, a dozen alumni and I gathered around a long wooden table for tapas and sangria in a loud, lively restaurant. After several hours of sharing UD stories and experiences, we reluctantly gave up our table and wandered together through El Sol, a popular area of the city, where we ran into a group of UD World Scholar students heading out for the night. It was a perfect moment of Blue Hen serendipity far away from campus. I made several new friends during my trip, and I’d like to say it all began with a shared plate of tapas.
Anne Giacoma Barretta, AS83
President, UD Alumni Association
@Angiabar
