Ah, first impressions. They can make or break a relationship. So far, Germany has been kind to us. We’ve been here for two weeks, so I thought I’d put on paper (on screen?) our first impressions of living in our newly adopted country. Learning German is a must. Ok – so we could probably getContinue reading “Germany: First Impressions”
Author Archives: The Shwits
Shane + Whitney = The Shwits. Cheesy? Yes. Is our cat ashamed of us? Probably. We're an American couple that has lived abroad for 9+ years. The Shwits is our diary of expat life, travel, and occasionally science. Enjoy!
Hello, Munich!
Tot ziens, Holland. Willkommen in Deutschland! We did it, we made it to Munich! Before I start, I wanted to take a moment to acknowledge current world events – specifically the Black Lives Matter protests happening in America right now. As an American living abroad for the foreseeable future, to be honest, I feel aContinue reading “Hello, Munich!”
Dear Holland: a love letter
If you’re reading this, then we are officially no longer residents of the Netherlands. I started to write this post a few days ago, but something just didn’t feel right about it. Last week, we finished watching the Michael Jordan documentary on Netflix, and it made me realize that we’re having our own version ofContinue reading “Dear Holland: a love letter”
Groningen Round-Up 4 (Quarantine Edition)
It’s been about six weeks since I last posted about our trip to Munich for Shane’s interview, and, despite being in ‘intelligent lockdown’, quite a bit has changed since then! First up… can you spot the difference?! If you guessed bikes vs flowers well, you’re wrong. 🤷♀️ But you were close though – so goodContinue reading “Groningen Round-Up 4 (Quarantine Edition)”
48 Hours in Munich, Germany
I don’t know about you guys, but I need a mental break from the coronavirus news. We’re not on full lockdown here in the Netherlands, but bars, restaurants, and gyms are closed, public transportation has been reduced, and people are encouraged to work from home. Long story short, it’s all anyone can talk about. So,Continue reading “48 Hours in Munich, Germany”
The adventure continues!
Six years ago, we moved to the Netherlands so that I (Shane) could complete a PhD. Last March, I completed said PhD. Since that time, I’ve searched for a postdoc position while working as a freelance science editor. Why such a long job search? Well, there are a couple of issues: My research interests areContinue reading “The adventure continues!”
Groningen to Munich: A Train Adventure
🎶 This is the story of a girl, who took a train around the whole world! 🎶 Ok, not quite, but that song popped in my head as I started to write this so you get what you get. This IS the story, though, of a girl who reluctantly agreed to take a train fromContinue reading “Groningen to Munich: A Train Adventure”
Happy New Year from Holland!
Ah – the New Year. The practice of leaving the old behind and ushering in an era of new beginnings. When you say it like this, it sounds calm and peaceful, right? Not if you’re in the Netherlands. Ok – so maybe my video isn’t that dramatic but it surely felt dramatic! Notice that constantContinue reading “Happy New Year from Holland!”
The Shwits 