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Visiting Gimmelwald, One of Switzerland’s Most Charming Alpine Villages — from Romanshorn by Train

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Switzerland has stunning alpine gems, but few places capture that “storybook mountain village” feel like Gimmelwald. Hidden on a clifftop in the Lauterbrunnen Valley, this tiny village is car-free, peaceful, and full of old-world charm. Here’s how we travelled to Gimmelwald from Romanshorn by train and what we did during our three-day and two-night stay.  Day 1: Romanshorn to Gimmelwald  We began our journey on a Monday morning at the end of July 2024, catching a train from Romanshorn and travelling across the country toward the Bernese Alps. After a scenic ride through central Switzerland, we arrived in Interlaken Ost in the late morning. From there, we transferred to a train heading toward Lauterbrunnen, a village famous for its dramatic cliffs and waterfalls. If you’re planning a similar trip, you can easily check train schedules using the official SBB railway website: SBB Network – IC81 Line We took a break for lunch at one of the charming restaurants in Lauterbrunnen. It...
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When the Contract Ends

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A few months before my post-doctoral contract ended, I started looking for a new position. I did not have experience in teaching and preferred to do research, so I was looking for another postdoc. I also considered shifting to non-academic jobs but was less successful than applying for another post-doc and getting invited for interviews. Location was also one of my considerations when selecting jobs. I didn't want to move to another city, especially if it was only for a one or two-year position. Can you imagine uprooting your life every two years? I know people who do it for research, moving places, bringing the whole family, looking for schools, and finding new activities. However, after my 40s, I don't have the energy anymore.  In my early days, I have been moving places. I did my PhD in the Netherlands for 5 years, worked in Indonesia for 3.5 years, returned to academia as a post-doc in Singapore for 3 years, and in the UK for 2 years. Each place has its beauty, but it also ...
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Hello World!

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It's been too long since I posted regularly on a blog. I started blogging in early 2000, when the Internet had just become a thing, and most content was text-based instead of video. And here I am, trying to return to my old habit of writing regularly.  A bit about the title. I have been living in the academia almost my whole life. Studying, more studying, research and more research. While I love doing research, being a research fellow or being in academia always put me on a pedestal. Am I good enough? What if I cannot catch up to the latest research trend? Do I publish enough? Why have I not heard anything from reviewers? I know that in life, you will always have questions, but the amount of self-doubt I had when I was in academia was not healthy. So, after I finished my contract as a research associate at one of the best universities in the world, I decided to have a break from academia.  This blog is about that. Navigating my career/life after 40. 
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