And so it zoomed by, pun intended! Namely my first month at Lund University. It has been both bizarre – and bizarrely normal – to start in a new position almost entirely remotely.

So very ‘new normal’!

Simultaneously a shared scholarly pursuit brings an unmistakable sense of familiarity. In many ways I already feel very much at home. I am greatly inspired by ongoing scholarly exchanges, concretised by the presentation (pictured) of Rasmus Sinding Søndergaard talking of Scandinavia and the International Year of Human Rights 1968 at the department seminar this Wednesday.

I have had some preliminary contacts with students & started my first course preparations. Things really get going next week as I meet my first bunch of bachelor supervisees. I have been allotted generous time with each of them (a grand total of five to start with!).

This feels very luxurious in today’s academia all too often defined by hast.

I remain deeply grateful to all my new colleagues for the warmth of their welcome – and their generosity at the face of my admittedly numerous questions. Undoubtedly there are more to come!

As for myself: I suppose the news of having a permanent academic position is only now starting to sink in. The road here has been long, and I was never quite sure whether this would be my final destination – both because of the scarcity of available positions & my fascination with a broad set of different professional tasks.

Yet once I am here, I cannot deny that the security – and above all, the sense of predictability – is significant. I also already feel a rejuvenated sense of inspiration for scholarly work, something that was waning even if I did not want to admit it.

I realise how conflicting this sounds to all my colleagues continually tackling with precarity! Suppose the only thing I can say is:

If you can muster the energy, hang in there as the right position for you too might be just around the corner – or across the border, as was the case with me.

Thanks to everyone at the Human Rights Studies, Lund University for allowing me to share this photo!