Welcoming Our Newest Team Member, Julian, and her Journey Moving Countries

Welcome to our second blog post!

In January, we warmly welcomed Julian as the last member of our team of DRs. We are happy that Julian will collaborate with us. Within LegumeLegacy, she will focus on the nitrogen fluxes from the grassland stage to the follow-on crop. Same as Meret, Julian also moved to Denmark for her international mobility, where she is also enrolled at the Aarhus University. Curious how she experienced her move from the tropical climate of Kenya to the frosty environments of Denmark? Read about her experiences below!

Moving from Kenya to Denmark

Moving from Kenya to Denmark has been a journey filled with anticipation, challenges, and unexpected discoveries. My experience began long before I set foot in Denmark, from the moment I received the exciting news of being selected for a PhD position. Immediately, I immersed myself in extensive background research, eager to learn everything I could about my soon-to-be new home. I delved into what to pack, what to expect, and perhaps most importantly, how to navigate the Danish weather. Coming from Kenya, where winter and snow is virtually unheard of, I couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to experience a winter wonderland. I envisioned picturesque scenes of snow-covered landscapes, but little did I know that my relationship with snow would soon become a love-hate affair. When the snow finally arrived on the third day after my arrival, my excitement quickly turned to trepidation as I stepped outside and promptly slipped and fell. The icy ground left me struggling to regain my balance, my body shivering from the biting cold. From that moment on, I decided to admire the snow from the safety of my balcony, where I could still appreciate its beauty without risking another embarrassing tumble. Other days you will find me tiptoeing on the snowy pavements holding my breath as I make my way to the bus stop. From my balcony, I have a breathtaking vista of the lake and the cityscape in the distance. The view is truly mesmerizing, offering a sense of tranquility and serenity. I often find myself lost in daydreams of reading a book against such a backdrop. However, it is impossible to enjoy from outside given the strong Danish winds, which sweep through the city with surprising force. It was yet another aspect of Danish weather that I had not fully anticipated, but one that I quickly learned to navigate with caution.

While my pre-Denmark preparations had equipped me to handle the cold, there were other aspects of Danish life that caught me completely off guard. One thing that particularly threw me for a loop was the early onset of darkness in the Danish winter. In Kenya, the onset of darkness signaled the winding down of the day, a time to prepare dinner, enjoy a meal with family, and eventually retire for the night. However, in Denmark, darkness descended as early as 5:00 PM, leaving me disoriented and out of sync with my usual routine. I found myself instinctively preparing dinner at what I considered to be a reasonable hour, only to realize that it was still early evening and there were hours left to fill before bedtime. It took me some time to adjust to the Danish way of life, where dinner is eaten later in the evening and bedtime comes much later than I was used to.

One of the highlights of my time in Denmark has been the opportunity to learn new skills and embrace new experiences. One of my proudest achievements has been learning how to ice-skate, a skill that I had never attempted before. Despite numerous falls, I persevered, determined to master this quintessential Danish pastime. And when I finally succeeded in gliding across the ice with minimal mishaps, it felt like a momentous accomplishment. Among other things that has struck me most about Denmark is the efficiency and organization of its systems. From the well-maintained public transport to the simple pleasure of having my own mailbox. In Kenya, we don’t receive letters so for some reason having a mailbox with my name on it was not only a new experience but also quite an exciting moment for me.

The work-life balance in Denmark is also something that I greatly admire, with shops closing early and weekends being reserved for leisure and relaxation. To say the least, the Danish work culture, with its emphasis on work-life balance, has been a refreshing change from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi. Besides, the transition from the vibrant chaos of Nairobi to the quiet streets of Viborg has been a stark contrast, but one that I have come to appreciate in its own way. While I initially found the emptiness of the streets and the reserved nature of the people to be strange, I have grown to cherish the peace and tranquility that comes with living in a smaller city.

Living in a shared apartment with other non-Danish residents has further enriched my experience in Denmark. From shared dinners to weekend outings, I have had the opportunity to immerse myself in different cultures and perspectives. It has been a source of comfort and support as I navigate this new chapter of my life in Denmark. More importantly, the relaxed atmosphere and friendly demeanor of my colleagues have made me feel welcomed and valued, despite our cultural differences.

Overall, my move to Denmark has been filled with positive surprises and invaluable experiences. While I may still grumble about the snow and curse the early darkness from time to time, I've come to appreciate the unique beauty and rhythm of life in Denmark. It's a journey that continues to unfold with each passing day, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to broaden my horizons and embrace the richness of a new culture.

As this is our last story that we will share on our international mobility, we hope that you enjoyed reading about the (pleasant) surprises of moving abroad.

So, what’s next?! In the beginning of March, some of the DRs will join the LegacyNet conference in Dublin. LegacyNet is a partner consortium of LegumeLegacy. It is a voluntary network of a common experiment across multiple sites to investigate the yield benefits of multispecies grassland leys, as well as their legacy effects on follow-on crops in a rotation. The conference will bring all LegacyNet members and guests together in person for the first time! Results and analysis techniques will be discussed. This will thus be an excellent opportunity for the DRs to gain more insight in data analyses and the effect of multispecies grassland leys.

Responsible for the contents of this blog post are the Doctoral Researchers Ellen Baekelmans, Die Hu and Sopia Philadelphi. Additionally, contributions were provided by Julian Nyaga.