Why did you choose to come to the Netherlands?
I also considered working in France and Germany. I finally chose the Netherlands because of the good working conditions and the opportunity to work with specific people I have always admired.

Did you suffer from culture shock?
Absolutely. I think it’s part of moving to a new country. When I first left Brazil, it was the middle of summer, and when I arrived in Holland, it was the middle of winter.
The difference in weather was striking. People here tend to spend more time at home in winter, so it took me a while to get settled and get to know new people. But by the time the days get longer in spring and the sun starts shining brightly, everything changes. This period is great and everyone just wants to be outside enjoying the warmth. I don’t think I was used to the seasons determining the daily routine so intensely. That’s the biggest difference I felt when I came here.

Have you also worked in other countries?
I did an internship in Ushuaia, Argentina, during my undergraduate studies.
Going to remote places as a biologist to collect data is an activity that is very similar around the world. There is also not much room to innovate when doing this kind of work. But one striking difference is the availability of resources in terms of funding and equipment. The ability to fund large projects leads to having state-of-the-art equipment that may not be common in other locations.

Before you came to the Netherlands, you may have had ideas about what your life would be like here. Did Holland meet your expectations?
I had very little idea what it would be like. The only image I had was through blog posts and videos on social media. Work-life balance is always pointed out and it is really true that people in the Netherlands have a healthy balance. People are indeed direct with their opinions, but that doesn’t translate into rudeness. People here are generally very friendly and casual, and serious when it’s time to work. The architecture and surroundings are beautiful (and quite flat, so you can often see far into the horizon). I am also always amazed at the skinny and tall buildings with narrow staircases all over the country. The weather can be inclement, but summer is usually pleasant.

What have you worked on (or are still working on) to feel at home here?
I think the main goal is always to build a wider social network and have more fun with different people. I also took a Dutch language course. Even though everyone here speaks good English, all infrastructure and public communication is done in Dutch. So having access to these communication services makes life easier.