Author: Sydney Talley | Major: Environmental, Soil, and Water Science | Semester: May 2024
In May 2024, I spent two weeks in Ghent, Belgium. Those two weeks felt like both two seconds and two months simultaneously. During that time, my class of eleven traveled to different cities in Belgium, studying various aspects of sustainability in the European food system. Each day was filled with lectures and field trips, allowing us to interact with professors, business owners, and locals. Despite the busy schedule, the excitement from the group made the trip fly by in moments.
Visiting a dairy farm that provides milk for a cheese factory we toured!
This course covered the food system from start to finish, from precision agriculture to food packaging to biofuels made from food waste. I was instantly excited by these topics. Long lectures allowed us to engage with each subject fully, and excursions allowed us to see many concepts firsthand. Belgium and the European Union have implemented sustainability initiatives and innovations not seen in the United States. This trip showed me new approaches to fitting our food system into a changing world. The United States could learn from Belgium in many ways. I was particularly interested in how they adapted systems to existing issues and infrastructure. The solutions are adapted to the needs of each region. For example, many areas lack the infrastructure for wastewater treatment, so companies have implemented natural wastewater treatment in their neighborhoods. The United States could learn from these innovative solutions.
Culturally, one of the biggest things that stood out to me was the difference in age and size of the continent. I recently heard the quote, “Europeans think 100 kilometers is far, and Americans think that 100 years is long.” This rang true during my time in Belgium. The entire country is roughly the area of Maryland. To the Americans, a 30-minute drive home from university is nothing; however, to a Belgian, this is a long distance to travel. Despite the small size of the country, there are very distinct regions with entirely different chosen languages and cultural identities. These cultural identities were formed through hundreds of years of history. We visited buildings from as early as the 14th century. I cannot fathom spending my life alongside so much history.
Evening on the streets of Gent!
Outside of our program schedule, we spent time exploring Gent. Some of my favorite memories were created while strolling through the streets of the university city. Our experiences included admiring the architecture, discovering unique shops, and engaging with the local community. These evenings were a chance to truly immerse myself in the everyday life of Belgium. Through conversations with locals and visits to lesser-known establishments, I gained a deeper understanding of the culture, not to mention the delicious fries, waffles, and beer we enjoyed each night!
I would recommend this trip to any student. Belgium is not a country I would have thought to visit, but I would choose it again in a heartbeat. Each city has a different appeal and sites to see. The University of Gent provided engaging lecturers and unique excursions, and I truly enjoyed traveling with other University of Arkansas students and faculty. When coming to Belgium, prepare for lots of history, chocolate, and waffles, but beware! There is much more beer than water and very little air conditioning. Fill up your water bottle and enjoy the cool weather!