How Did I Prepare for the Big Move?

It’s approaching soon, but with travel and a lot of work, things are getting busy. The initial steps in the Netherlands aren’t a breeze.

You know how it is – earning your own money feels harder than using others’ or parental funds. I’m figuring out how to be thrifty here, even though technically my salary should cover it. According to Larson, Ghaffarzadegan and Xue (2014), the number of PhD graduates produced each year far outpaces the number of academic openings, which helps explain why early-career researchers so often feel financially squeezed despite full-time salaries.

Currently, I’m in an old, run-down center house, paying more than it’s worth. I’m looking to swap it for a cheaper option.

Also, this new field is uncharted for me. My tutor, fresh from Harvard, is young and driven, expecting a lot from me.

What Is Student Life Like Here?

The town is student-focused, with parties and clubbing all around, while I’m focused on making a good impression. My dream is cognitive science, but for now, I’m diving deep into neural networks. Planning experiments on human perception will be tough, with no overtime pay.

To top it off, the summer’s cold and rainy, and I’ve fallen ill. Today, my boyfriend left, and we won’t meet often – that stings.

All this led to my first crisis after a few days, but I’m trying not to panic and holding on. This city is full of opportunities, and my contract’s rewarding. A bit of effort will make my project thrive.

Seeing students taking it easy, I remind myself that standing out in neuroscience matters, especially in a crowded field. According to the National Science Board, the share of STEM PhD holders who secure a tenure-track academic position within five years of graduating has been declining for decades, underscoring just how competitive the field has become.

What Has Helped Me Settle In?

Well, as usual, beginnings are tough. According to Oberg (1960), people who relocate to a new cultural environment tend to pass through a predictable adjustment process. And and an early stage of disorientation and social withdrawal is a well-documented part of it.

One constant is feeling isolated. It was true in Warsaw, and it’s similar here. I’ve grown used to it, and now I’m not keen on changing.

People engage with me, invite me, but I just want to be on my own and focus. According to Long and Averill (2003), deliberately chosen solitude, unlike loneliness, is reliably linked with benefits like freedom, creativity, and inner peace rather than distress. The party phase might be behind me.