Update from the Orient

Today I want to take the time and write a blog post again. The last one is already ages ago.
That's why I have to skip a few things and only start with my visit to Giglio almost a month ago. During the Eid holidays (the holidays after Ramadan - just like Christmas for us), I visited Felix in Italy.
My parents also visited in the first week. That was not only nice because I wouldn't have seen them until Christmas, but also because my mom had never been to Giglio before.
They picked me up at the airport in Rome on the way there and then we continued together to the island.

The first cappuccino on the ferry!

There we all spent a few wonderful days, above and below water, with delicious food and beautiful sunsets.

The bay of Campese

Eating sfliatino - a Giglio classic

Hiking to Poggio della Pagana - the highest point of the island

Strolling through the streets of Giglio Castello

Of course, there were also a few dives.
A few times, my dad was even able to help us underwater with our work - a 'research diver in training' :-)

My dad and a scorpionfish at the anchor - Campese bay

And we indulged ourselves with lots of treats during our nightly aperitivo.

Cheers!

On the second week, I was there 'alone'. Since there was a lot going on at the institute and Felix was supposed to teach two courses (which would have meant that we could only see each other in the evening), I took over one of his courses - even though I was on vacation ;-) This gave us more time to hike and enjoy some time together.

View from the hammock on the Alumne rocks

Me diving (Photo: Felix :))

After returning to the sandbox, I didn't stay long in Saudi. Because just 5 days later, I went to the USA, where I attended a conference on 'Animal Microbe Symbioses' in Vermont (so everything about animals and bacteria/fungi/viruses etc. symbionts. By symbionts, I mean the 'English' symbionts that also include parasites, for example).
The conference was really good! Very intense - long days, many conversations with smart people, and little sleep, but I learned a lot and met many interesting people.
One afternoon, my PhD colleague Ruben and I also drove to the nearby, sleepy little town of Wilmington.

A stroll through Wilmigton (Vermont)

After the conference, I had about 2 ½ days to explore Boston, because my return flight to Saudi was from there.
On the first afternoon (I was still with Ruben before he flew off), we visited the Harvard University Natural History Museum.
Quite impressive exhibitions and lots of exciting things to discover.

Ruben and I at the Harvard University Natural History Museum (I even found one of my shells!)

The next day, of course, as befits a marine biologist, I visited the New England Aquarium.

Visit to the New England Aquarium

I also strolled through the city and not only saw downtown Boston but also the nearby Cambridge (where Harvard and MIT are located). My accommodation was in Somerville, near Cambridge, a bit outside the city.

Impressions from Boston (+'pictorial joke' in the harbor ;-))

After returning, work continued intensively here in Saudi.
In the last few days, I started another project with my colleague involving my shells. This time, we are investigating the impact of UV radiation. I'm curious to see how everything will go - keep your fingers crossed that everything works.

Preparing for the experiment

Besides, I have a few other important things on my desk that need to be done in the coming weeks. For example, I have to finally submit my publication about the bacteria associated with giant clams and another one about their ability to make light particularly available to their algae symbionts. (By the way, my first paper, about calcification, meaning the 'shell growth' of these clams under different light conditions, was accepted and published a few weeks ago. As well as the one we wrote here as a three-person project with two colleagues - about the influence of microplastics on Tridacna clams).

So, work-wise, things are going well and I am optimistic about finishing next year.
But now I have to get back to work - as I said, there is still a lot to be done in the next few weeks.
In less than a month, I'm going on vacation - Felix and I will visit our friend Anna in Madagascar - and I will report on this trip as well.

Until then, best regards!