After the summer school, the participants gathered further California impressions during a few private vacation days with former colleague Clara Kristen.

After the summer school, the participants used the opportunity to add a few private vacation days in California. This time offered a change of setting after the scientific programme and created space for personal exchange beyond lectures, laboratory visits, and conference discussions. The group continued the trip together with former colleague Clara Kristen, who now works in Laura Marcu’s group at the University of California, Davis.

The additional days provided a chance to experience California outside the academic context. While the summer school had focused on scientific training and international exchange, the following trip added a more informal perspective. Shared travel, conversations, and everyday impressions helped strengthen personal connections and offered a relaxed conclusion to the visit.