Pierrick
Pierrick and Marie always knew they were destined for an adventure together. “We knew each other since we were 18 years old. I met Marie at Judo class in Lisieux, France … We always wanted to live somewhere else, we were prepared for adventure.” Marie’s career in Astrophysics catapulted the couple in to their first adventure, Washington D.C. “Here, I worked to pursue my Project Management Certificate so that I could continue my work in the United States.” At the same time, Pierrick began to volunteer for the American Cancer Society to assist in organizing a local walk for the cure. “We stayed in Washington for 1 year 3 months and then we moved to Baltimore. It was here that I learnt that… “there is a totally different way of thinking in the United States from France. In France, I feel that failing is seen as a burden while in the US it is considered as part of the path to success.”
Pierrick was creative in his pursuits for employment: “I ended up contracting work through a Canadian company for a while… [and] I landed my current job by meeting with the CEO of a company at Baltimore airport. We later became good friends.” With his current company he has lots of opportunity for travel within the United States.
With Marie, they also enjoy exploring as much US National Parks as possible. “The most memorable moment for me was paddling in a boat in the Everglades. Sneaking out through the mangrove and Florida wildlife was surreal!” When she got a position at CalTech in September 2016, Pierrick was excited about the plentiful outdoor opportunities: “I love to go anywhere in the outdoors; to the mountains, to the ocean. “I am not one for the big city of LA… although… the city does have everything here that you could ask for. There is a French artist, Gad Emaleh, who in France you cannot see him because the theaters are packed and here they do not know about him yet!”
Pierrick explained what he misses most about home: “I was really sad to miss being home for the 2018 Fifa world cup. The critical moments are what make me miss home, the birthdays, weddings. I once flew for my brothers wedding on the Friday, went to the wedding on Saturday, Sunday and then flew back on Monday. We try to go back once a year and call frequently.” One thing that has always been in his life and what has helped him to connect with new people and communities is that he gets involved in sports like mountain biking, hiking and soccer. “I have learnt many sports on my own but surfing is the first sport I could not master… laughs…it is so hard (since the interview I managed to stand on the board 😉 I did it!). When you run or hike you can think about work or your personal life but in surfing you have to think about the ocean or you will likely drown.”
What Pierrick recommends to people who are starting their postdoctoral journey: “Don’t wait to start something new! Just do it! Get involved right away!... Choose the adventure; that is what life is all about! These opportunities gave me a lot of time for personal reflection and you will learn a lot about yourself and relationship with your partner. [Also] I am not involved in CISC but I found it helpful to make some close friends through sports and some of whom speak French.”
Credits:
Christophe Marcade