I have spent two wonderful weeks at the KU Leuven working alongside my colleague from the INCLUE project, Francisco. I’ve been very warmly welcomed both into the lab and outside of it. The people I shared the office with as well as those that feasted with me once the arduous day’s labour was complete were the ones who made the whole experience beyond pleasurable.
With the patience of a sage and a sense of humour of a tired millennial, Francisco was a wonderful mentor and friend. He guided me through the process of the ultrasound treatment which we applied to the water solutions of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with the goal of degrading these omnipresent and persistent pollutants. The fruits of our work will be reaped in several months’ time, once the collected data have been analysed, and until then, we will retell the stories of our Belgian escapades.
I chose the city of Antwerp as my host which proved to be an exquisite choice. With a plethora of events, stunning architecture, and an inexhaustive pool of restaurants and bars, it was truly hard to be bored. One evening, the city has graced me with the sight of a seagull munching on a smaller bird, and the other an orange-tinted sunset beyond the imposing cathedral. The sights I hope to revisit in the near future for a continuation of the grand adventures.
