A Dive Into the Experiences of the DRs Relocating
Hi there!
Welcome to our first blog post managed by the doctoral researchers from LegumeLegacy! Maybe you are already familiar with LegumeLegacy, but in case you aren't, let us briefly introduce ourselves first.
LegumeLegacy is a doctoral network funded under the EU Horizon-MSCA-DN-2021 programme. The consortium consists of 21 principal investigators (PIs), 11 doctoral researchers (DRs), and one project manager. Together, we aim to optimise multiple benefits of grass, legume and herb mixtures in crop rotations to reduce the negative environmental impacts of modern agriculture.
To be eligible for participating in a Doctoral Network, MSCA funding requires the researchers to undergo international mobility. This means being willing to move to a new country for the duration of your PhD. As most of us started our PhDs between August and November 2023, we would like to reflect on our time so far as starting PhD students, especially sharing some experiences regarding moving to a different country.
Moving from Germany to Denmark - Meret
I started as a PhD fellow at Aarhus university in Denmark and moved to Viborg in September 2023. The beautiful mediaeval buildings and churches make the core of Denmark very special, and so do the two lakes, which I live right beside. It might not be very big, but its central location is perfect to explore Denmark. I was also a little pessimistic about moving into a student dormitory before, as I thought with 26 years of age and several years of sharing apartments, this chapter would be over. But now that I live here, I could not be happier about it! It can be a challenge sharing the kitchen with 9 other people. However, sharing a home with people from all over the world made me feel very welcome straight away – as my colleagues did at work. I have never worked at such a brilliant workplace before, where well-being, work-life balance, and good relationships between colleagues are highly promoted.
The tomorrow-is-Monday-feeling is a good one for me now. Of course, it is not always all happy and fun, and you still miss family, friends, or your partner, but so to say I am very content here. Moving to a different country, starting a new job or study program, finding new friends, basically starting an entirely new chapter of your life over and over again can be difficult, but quite enriching. Although I must admit I did not expect Danish to be even more difficult to pronounce than French! As I heard, if you want to sound Danish, you better put a hot potato in your mouth first – and smile :)
Moving from Norway to Switzerland - Linn
When I think about Norway and Switzerland, I mainly see the similarities such as the mountains and the skiing, and the low population densities. As I moved to Zurich, however, the differences were presented. The first surprise, I encountered, was already when I was disembarking the plane and realised that the Swiss are not part of the open EU roaming. Another shock was the limited knowledge of English at the town house when I registered my move. However, we solved it with the help of some basic sign language, and most of the Swiss people I meet speak fluent English. The final difference I want to share is the weather. When I moved in September it was like going back in time to summer. We had 25 degrees in Zurich, whereas in Oslo the leaves were already falling off the trees. My initial homesickness was cured by sunbathing at the lake of Zurich, and exploring the (to me) foreign selection of food in the groceries, and overall I can only recommend moving to a new country!
Moving from Brazil to Germany - Sophia
I started working in the LegumeLegacy Doctoral Network at the University of Hohenheim (Germany) in September 2023. Despite having lived in Italy as a teenager and having travelled around Europe, it was my first time visiting (and moving to) Germany.When I first arrived in Stuttgart, I was pleasantly surprised to see that it is a big and well-planned city with lots of nature. So is the Hohenheim university campus! The house where I currently live, can date back to the 1500s, which sounds crazy to me since Brazil was not discovered until that time. Regarding the people, luckily, they are really kind and welcoming, maybe a bit reserved at first, but by now I can say that I've made some great friendships that will last a lifetime.
I cannot say that there's only a positive side of moving to a new country and I definitely faced some difficulties. The first was the language barrier. For a non-German speaker, It can be a challenge even choosing the cycle for the washing machine or ordering food at a restaurant! Secondly, the climate. For someone who lived near the Equator for most of their life - where we have four seasons every year: summer, summer, rainy summer, and summer - I can certainly affirm that my first winter in Germany has been a real thermal shock. Lastly, but not less important, German paperwork is no joke! I had never, in my life, received a physical letter before. Now, I can’t make them stop. So, if I could give one piece of advice to someone moving to Germany for the first time, it would be: bring a letter opener!
Moving from Philippines to UK - Raniel
In 2022, upon completing my master's, I faced a difficult life decision, torn between pursuing academia, industry, or joining a research institution. Through a friend, I came across the Marie Curie Scholarship, an opportunity I didn't fully grasp but decided to seize. To my surprise, I underwent an interview process and secured a doctoral researcher position at the University of Reading in the UK, marking a significant career shift. The initial week in the UK was a whirlwind. I had to adjust to an 8 hour difference in time-zone, where I felt my daytime in the Philippines becoming my bedtime in the UK. Regarding the weather, comparing it to my previous joyful experience with winter and snow during my masters in South Korea, I found the gloomy and rainy days in the UK to be a bit challenging.
Despite all the adjustments, the UK is a very welcoming country! I was pleasantly surprised by the emphasis given to mental health and work-life balance. At the university, an unexpected cultural difference emerged - I was taken aback by addressing my professor by their first name, a practice uncommon back home where we typically use titles such as Dr or Prof. Overall, as I settle in for the upcoming years, I am grateful for this opportunity and the supportive environment. Starting from a point of uncertainty, my journey now appears promising, both in academics and in navigating this new part of Europe.
As we wrap up this captivating journey with Meret, Linn, Sophia and Raniel who went overseas for their research and studies, we're left with stories full of bravery, curiosity, and resilience. Each tale paints a picture of both struggles and successes, highlighting the challenges of academic life in a new country.
Big thanks to our featured researchers for letting us in on their personal adventures. They've given us valuable insights into fitting into a new culture, picking up a new language, and finding joy in academic exploration. To you, our readers, we ask: did these experiences ring a bell with your own academic path?
In January 2024, we warmly welcomed the 11th doctoral researcher, Julian, to the project! She moved from Kenya to Denmark! Hopefully, in a future blog, she'll also have the chance to share her initial impressions of moving to Denmark.
Thanks for joining us on this part of our trip. As we say goodbye to these stories, we're excited for what's next, building a collection of shared experiences that transcends borders and sparks inspiration for academics around the world.
Responsible for the contents of this blog post are the Doctoral Researchers Ellen Baekelmans, Die Hu and Sopia Philadelphi. Additionally, contributions were provided by Meret Kaspereit and Raniel Valencia.