Ghent

So I was in Ghent for the past couple weeks. I was invited by the Nematology Section at the Univsersity to give a lecture series on nematode morphology to the Master's students. I think it went pretty well, although my own enthusiasm for stylets and denticles may cloud my interpretation of events. I'm glad I finally got to visit this place with such an established tradition of nematology research. My visit also lined up with those a few international colleagues whom it was good to see again.

While I was in town I took the chance to explore Europe's nether regions, geographically speaking. Of course I took some stock snapshots of buildings and streets, which you can see here. Went to some art museums. Now on to broad generalizations, if I may: I appreciate the cultural openness I saw in the Dutch-speaking world. I also appreciated the waffles. Especially of the Luiks variety (apparently there are two kinds of "Belgian waffles"). There were also plenty of fries, which came in heaps whether they were expected or not. Whoever said America is special as a land of Super-Size-Me fried food is full of it. And the dipping sauce: who would have thought you can flavor mayonnaise in so many ways? The idea of which (i.e. as a potato condiment) has slightly grown on me, by the way. But I still prefer to take them with ketchup, even at 20 cents a packet. Call me red-blooded American if you will. I should mention that there are probably also vegetables to be found, because I saw plenty of farmland outside of the cities. But it is extremely expensive to eat in Western Europe when you don't have a kitchen, so I still know little about finer Belgian cuisine.

Speaking of fried food, I also ran the local 10K ("Stadsloop Gent") my last day there. It started across the street from where I was staying, and I had the shoes for it, so what the hey. I even got a silver medal! I tied for second with 4507 others. Now I know what it means to "show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders." No wonder the IRA was so unimpressed.

All in all, a good visit. I just hope my little friends have survived my absence -- a concern when working with live nematodes (imagine that). How I fondly recall the dead specimens of yesteryear.