The Oscars happened. I watched all the nominees. I had opinions. And honestly? I’m more disappointed than I expected to be, not just with the ceremony, but with everything it made me think about.
Here’s what upset me most: literally only Javier Bardem and Oliver Laxe (the Spaniards!!!) were open about the Iran and Palestine wars and conflicts.
In a room full of the most privileged, most platformed people in entertainment, almost no one said anything that mattered. It was safe. It was predictable. It was... boring.
All the predictions were right. No unexpected wins. No surprises. No risk.
As Almodóvar says, the cinema world is in decline. Listen to his podcast here if you want to feel both validated and depressed about the state of film.
I loved Sentimental Value, and I’m so glad it won Best International Film. But honestly? I’m sad Sirat didn’t win as a proud Spaniard. But glad Griffin thinks it is the best nominated movie this year, and he is still thinking about it. That’s a win!
But then I read this piece by my friend Pablo and this one by my friend Alex in The Atlantic, and suddenly the film became polemic and hard to watch differently.
It’s complicated. Art is complicated. Representation is complicated. And sometimes the films we want to celebrate aren’t the films we should celebrate, or at least, not uncritically.
What was your favorite Oscar-nominated movie? I want to know what you’re still thinking about.
All the Empty Rooms won Best Short Film. It’s a beautiful, devastating film about loss. And it got me thinking about whether I can have children in the US.
The current political situation is really making me doubt my choices. I had been accepting my NYC life more, settling in, feeling like maybe this is home. But now I’m unsure whether it makes sense to stay longer.
Truly wondering whether it makes sense to take the huge pay cut and move to Spain or another European country. Who knows. These financials are driving me crazy.
And it’s not just about taking the pay cut. Did you realize you also have to deal with investments, retirement, healthcare systems that don’t transfer, and tax implications? Moving your life across to another country when you actually have assets and a career is not easy.
It was so much easier when broke 21-year-old me moved to the US in 2020. I had nothing to think about. No retirement plan. No investments. Just a suitcase.
This is an amazing country. Obviously. But I am and will always be European (well, as I prefer to be identified, Andalusian).
I don’t have answers, just sitting with the questions while I go on a marathon of reading fantasy books to stop the thoughts from coming.
Speaking of things that are complicated and hard to watch: The Plastic Detox on Netflix. Watch it. Seriously. Especially now that you have no more Oscar movies to catch up on.
Here’s what I learned (and what’s been haunting me):
Plastic is everywhere. And I mean EVERYWHERE.
Tea bags have plastic in them
Chewing gum is basically plastic (and I eat it daily, sad)
Old Tupperware and takeout containers leach microplastics into your food
Cutting boards shed microplastics every time you use them
Ziploc bags? Plastic
The huge impact on fertility is insane (scary)
I’ve always prided myself on reusing and recycling. I love giving things a second life. I love finding new uses for old containers. But this documentary made me realize that sometimes... You just have to throw things away (and most importantly, work on not having to throw them away).
For me, it’s the throwing away itself. It hurts. It goes against everything I believe about waste and reuse. But I’m learning that keeping old plastic tupperware isn’t sustainable if it’s literally poisoning my food.
Since I have to move soon anyway (thanks, 30% rent increase), it’s a good excuse to finally declutter and replace plastic with glass, silicone, and stainless steel.
Which brings me to my wedding gift idea...
I’m thinking about giving our wedding guests crystal/glass tupperware as… favors? Is that how you call that here?
It encourages them to take leftovers home (reducing food waste)
It’s practical
It’s better for their health than plastic
It’s a reminder that our choices matter
Plus, it feels very on-brand for a vegan wedding where we’re already asking people to rethink their consumption patterns.
What’s the hardest plastic item for you to give up?
Currently worried about all my friends leaving NYC. It feels like every week someone announces they’re moving back home or back to Europe, or to some cheaper city where rent doesn’t eat 50% of their income.
I get it. But instead of processing those feelings, I’m doing what I do worst: planning a trip.
My manager was telling me about trips to places to look for fossils, and I’m heading to the Isle of Skye for a short trip before my usual trip back home to Spain. He said, “Why don’t you go fossil looking?”
Which is funny because I lived in Aberdeen, Scotland, for 4 years and never went to the Isle of Skye. Now that I can actually afford to travel more, it feels like the right time. And also doing it with my Aberdeen bestie from Sevilla, feels even better. And convincing my childhood best friend to join us, even, even better, haha
Here’s what I learned: The Isle of Skye holds more than 10% of the world’s Middle Jurassic dinosaur species!!! The footprints are 170-168 million years old, left by massive sauropods (think long-necked dinosaurs) and carnivorous theropods (think T. rex’s ancestors).
The most accessible dinosaur footprints are at An Corran Beach near Staffin, where 18 three-toed Megalosaurus prints (30-50cm long) were discovered in 2002 by a local woman walking her dog. The prints are visible at low tide, so timing matters.
Important note: You can visit and view fossils on Skye, but it’s illegal to collect or remove vertebrate fossils due to a Nature Conservation Order protecting them.
Which honestly feels right. Some things should just be left where they are.
But I am excited to go on a trip, mostly to go back to the country that saw me grow with the people I honestly love the most.
If you’ve ever been to the Isle of Skye, do you have recommendations?
If you love running as much as I do, you’ve probably realized that you have to do more than run, not only to stay in shape but to support your bones, prevent injury, and actually get stronger.
So I am now an avid user of the Apple Fitness app to keep track of strength workouts, which I love and hate at the same time. And no, this is not an ad. I am absolutely not getting paid for this.
I have always hated exercise. Running is the only good thing about exercising. You won’t see me enjoying a strength workout or a gym session. Sorry. I try. I really do. But every time I’m doing squats or planks, I’m thinking about how much I’d rather just be running.
But also, my knees thank me. And my back. And apparently, my bones will thank me when I’m 60. So I’m doing it. Begrudgingly.
Follow me on Strava if you want to watch me run a lot and strength train occasionally while complaining about it.
I’m deep in writing the script for the feature film version of “Corahe,” and I’ve been reading Directing Actors by Judith Weston to understand how to write for performance.
Here’s what’s striking me: good storytelling isn’t about what characters say, it’s about what they want and what’s stopping them from getting it.
Weston talks about how directors (and by extension, writers) need to think in terms of action and obstacle, not just dialogue. What does this character want in this scene? What’s in their way? How do they try to get around it?
It’s made me rethink every scene I’ve written. Instead of writing conversations, I’m writing conflicts.
If you’re working on any kind of creative project, film, writing, or even just trying to communicate better in your daily life, this book is worth your time.
Look at her, doesn’t she make you want to read it?
This month’s practice is hard for me: Throw away your old plastic containers and cutting boards.
I know. It goes against everything I believe. But after watching The Plastic Detox, I learned that old plastic leaches microplastics into our food with every use. Keeping it isn’t sustainable if it’s literally poisoning us.
So here’s the challenge:
Audit your kitchen: Check tupperware, cutting boards, and utensils for old, scratched, or damaged plastic
Replace with glass, silicone, or stainless steel: Not all at once! Do it as you can afford it. Also, save those glass containers from the supermarket and use them as Tupperware for free!
Stop buying new plastic: No more Ziploc bags, plastic wrap, disposable containers
The throwing away hurts. I get it. But sometimes the most sustainable thing we can do is let go of things that are harming us, even if it feels wasteful in the moment. You can also give them away on your local Buy Nothing group if you feel the pain as I do.
April 14-16 – NYS Organics Summit (Syracuse, NY)
Two full days of programming plus facility tours. Connect with 200+ professionals to discuss sustainable organics management across NYS. Scholarships available for small businesses and students! Info here
Throughout April – EarthMonth Volunteer Days at NYC Community Gardens
Multiple gardens across all boroughs are hosting volunteer days for spring cleaning, composting workshops, and garden preparation. Check NYC Parks GreenThumb for specific dates and locations.
Throughout April – Spanish Cinema in NYC
Amazing masterpieces of Spanish film playing in NYC this April! I’ll sadly be in Spain (funny enough), but you should go see these. Check the full lineup here
Weekly Storytelling Events – The Moth
I volunteer for The Moth regularly, and they have wonderful storytelling events almost every week. You should go!!! It is the best. True stories told live by real people, funny, heartbreaking, unforgettable. Find events here
Ongoing – Climate Cafe NYC
Check out Climate Cafe NYC for ongoing events. They are wonderful people creating spaces for climate conversations, community building, and action. Highly recommend.
Ongoing – Plant-Based Treaty
Learn about the Plant Based Treaty, a grassroots campaign addressing the climate crisis through food system change. They organize events, advocacy actions, and community education. Essential if you care about the intersection of food and climate.
Ongoing – Master Composter Certificate Course
Workshops on composting science, advocacy, and community building. Open to anyone 18+ interested in community composting. Currently funded through June 30, 2026. Sign up here
First Sunday of Each Month – Repair Café El Barrio
El Barrio Artspace (215 East 99th Street) 11 am-2 pm. Bring broken items and learn to fix them with volunteer experts. Donation-based.
For Spaniards in NYC – Tierra Extraña
If you’re a Spaniard in NYC, follow my friend Casilda’s amazing events with Tierra Extraña. Community, culture, and connection for Spanish expats navigating New York.
What events are you attending this spring? Let me know in the comments!
Time still feels weird. Friends are leaving NYC. The Oscars were disappointing. I’m throwing away Tupperware that I loved. I’m planning trips to Scotland to look at dinosaur footprints while also planning a vegan wedding in Spain, where risotto will be the main course.
Nothing makes sense, and also everything does.
Maybe that’s just what March feels like. Or maybe it’s what being in your late twenties/early thirties feels like when you’re trying to hold onto community in a city that makes it hard, while also trying to reduce your plastic consumption (and consumption in general) in the capital of capitalism, finish a script, and figure out where everyone’s going and whether you should follow them.
I’m choosing to focus on what I can control.
And maybe that’s enough.
See you next month,
Lusi
P.S. Follow me on TikTok for running in the cold, vegan recipes, and general chaos, all in Spanish! If you’re learning the language, it’s a fun way to practice while getting sustainability tips. And yes, I’ll be posting about the Isle of Skye trip when it happens!
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