January 26 2024- The author reflects on a seemingly innocuous question about their new postdoc during a conference. Despite the temptation to provide a positive response, the author admits to feeling increasingly despairing after 5 months, grappling with family challenges in a new country and struggling to advance their research project. The question becomes a turning point, prompting the author to recognize the unsustainability of their situation and the need to find better coping strategies for the aftermath of their international move.
