Working abroad is one of the requirements of the Sara Borrell postdoctoral contract. That’s why I am in Oxford (Sir William Dunn School of Pathology. University of Oxford) culturing stem cells, modifying genes (CRISPR/Cas9) involved in the innate immune response against HIV, differentiating into hematopoietic precursors and macrophages to generate new models for the study of the interaction between host and HIV. All seasoned with a few berries recipes, tea, the eternal dichotomy “Lager vs Ale” and some fish&chips.

However, working abroad is more about fending for yourself. Leaving the comfort zone with some personal sacrifices... How I miss my kids! Adapting to a new country, a new culture and a different language. Learning everything from scratch again. And last but not least, feeling lucky to meet exceptional people, with very different lives, stories and ways of seeing life, and who are already a part of me.