Tuesday, May 21
Back to work! I reviewed more English translations at the 360° Care and Well-Being Research Centre. On the tram ride home, Caitlin and I stopped for an early dinner at a delicious pita restaurant. Later that evening, I got hungry again and went out for more fries. I tried andalouse sauce, but ultimately decided I preferred mayo.
Wednesday, May 22
Caitlin and I attended a EuroCarers conference in Brussels with our supervisors from the 360° Care and Well-Being Research Centre. The conference was an annual meeting of representatives from 12 European nations, focused on how to better support informal carers. Informal carers are non-professionals who provide vital medical support to their loved ones. They are an essential part of the medical system. The day was spent listening to the presentations and taking notes.
Thursday, May 23
In the morning, I worked remotely from a café. Later, I met with David and students in his Pioneers Program to discuss my research so far. On campus, I saw a sign with my name, which initially confused me. I later learned that “Renee” is the mascot of HoGent’s student council. I felt honored to share my name with it!
Friday, May 24
I met with David and some of his students in the morning. A wave of homesickness hit me, but it was soon distracted by a weekend trip to Amsterdam. The girls and I took a FlixBus from Ghent to Amsterdam, which was delayed by a couple of hours. After enduring the bus ride, we checked into our hostel, which happened to be a boat. We then participated in a cold and rainy canal boat tour.