It’s hard to believe that my study abroad trip is already over. I’m back in Burgos with my family, where it feels like I’ve stepped back into summer (my last week in Asturias was overcast and drizzly). It felt like an early start to autumn weather in Oviedo, but the people there don’t seem to mind, saying it’s what keeps the city green. Oviedo is green, literally and figuratively. Beyond the weather, what really struck me was how environmentally conscious daily life is there. Walking, cycling, and public transport are just the default ways people get around, not an alternative you have to choose. In the summer, people hang their clothes out to dry instead of reaching for the dryer (there in Oviedo, they also have a special plastic covering to go over the clothesline to dry clothes even when it rains). Also, despite Oviedo's near year-round rain and overcast skies, solar panels were still everywhere, which was a good reminder that we can still invest in sustainable habits even when the conditions aren't ideal.
Spain also prioritizes local produce, and it's much more common for people to eat foods that are actually in season rather than expecting everything to be available year-round. A lot of people also keep their own family gardens outside the city that they tend to regularly, which feels like such a nice rhythm to build into life and a sustainable way to source food. People cook at home far more often too, rather than defaulting to takeout or eating out. Also, they take recycling more seriously here, and everyone divides their waste into organic, paper, plastic, glass, and general trash. I noticed that the things people buy, from clothing to household items, tend to be higher quality and made to last, which is basically the opposite of the planned obsolescence we're so used to in the US. Seeing all of this in action has inspired me to find my own ways to work more of these habits into my life, whether it's air-drying clothes, finding more creative ways to reuse things, or just being more thoughtful about what foods I’m buying during each season.
Irene Rose Ares, Diverse Ducks Ambassador
Advanced Spanish Language, Literature, and Culture in Oviedo
