When I landed in France for my two-month secondment at WatchFrog, I thought I was simply stepping into a new lab, another phase of my PhD. But life, as it often does, surprised me. These weeks became much more than science—they became a journey of rediscovery, resilience, friendship, and fulfilling long-held dreams.
In the lab, I found myself reconnecting with an old love. After years devoted to chemical and biological treatments, it felt like coming home to dive again into biology, biochemistry, and toxicology. At WatchFrog, I learned about ecotoxic bioassays, the OECD guidelines that shape our work, the software that deciphers fluorescent images, and the importance of ethics in research. These were not just technical skills but threads weaving me back into the deeper meaning of why I chose this research path in the first place.
Yet, the lab was only half of the story. France itself became a teacher. I learned to speak a little more French every day, sometimes stumbling through French phrases, others laughing at my own mistakes, but in the end, I slowly began to feel less like a visitor and more like a participant in Parisian life. I learned that a walk by the Seine at sunset can soothe the busiest mind, that a croissant or pain au chocolat eaten slowly is a lesson in joy, and that gastronomy is as much about culture as it is about food.
And then, there were the dreams, the kind you carry quietly from childhood. Watching the lights of the Eiffel Tower shimmer against the night sky. Stepping into the velvet world of the Moulin Rouge. Losing myself in the gardens of Versailles, as opera, dance, and fireworks pulled me into another century. Even playing at Astérix and Disneyland, where the child within me was given space to breathe and laugh freely.
Alongside all this, there were people. I deepened bonds with colleagues, especially with Sara (DC10), learning about her Serbian culture while sharing my own. I made friends from around the world, each conversation a bridge to a new perspective. These connections reminded me that science is not done alone; it is built in community, nourished by culture, and enriched by friendships.
And somewhere in between the lab experiments and the Parisian nights, I learned about myself too. About the resilience of being away from home, about enduring solitude, about carrying on even when it is not easy. Growth is not always loud; sometimes, it is quiet, happening in the small victories of every day.
For all of this, I am deeply grateful to MSCA INCLUE. This project did more than advance my research—it gave me moments that will stay with me for life. I leave France not only with new knowledge but with new strength, new friends, and memories that feel almost like poetry. Because sometimes, science takes us far for data. Other times, it takes us far for discovery. And if we are lucky, it also takes us far enough to rediscover ourselves.
Thank you for everything, France. I will see you again soon!