Eliska's PhD research focuses on the experiences of Czech children with incarcerated parents, with an emphasis on how children of prisoners are informed about parental incarceration.

Introduction

This chapter provides an account of the relocation process to pursue higher education studies in another country, with a specific focus on my move from Czechia to the United Kingdom. It illustrates my fluid journey towards adjustment, in line with Oberg's (1954) theory of ‘culture shock’. In addition, the chapter reflects on my experience of moving from one higher education institution to another, describing the process of getting used to different institutional settings and the benefits of being part of an international cohort of researchers. Finally, my chapter provides an account of maintaining research ties with one's home country and argues for the possibility of the symbiotic co-existence of multiple spatial identities.

Moving from one country to another country – Czechia to the United Kingdom

Completing my secondary education at the Austrian Grammar School in Prague, I was exposed to an omnipresent culture glamorising studying abroad, and thus making the most of my obtained language skills. Having obtained both Austrian and Czech A-Levels, it would have been expected of me to study either in Austria or Czechia. Many alumni of my Austrian Grammar School did, but I chose to move to the United Kingdom instead. The simple reason for this was that neither Austria nor Czechia could ‘criminology’ be studied at an undergraduate level.