A Physics Teacher’s Reflection on Moving Countries; Are we expending like gas? 

My family and I are preparing for a big transition: a move from Zambia to India and a return to apartment living after five years in a house filled with laughter, dogs, a baby, and the occasional snake. Our shipment left yesterday—always a major milestone in an international move—and the reality of downsizing is sinking in.

It’s also a stressful time of year, full of logistics, goodbyes, and uncertainty. On a recent run—my usual space to clear my head—I found myself drifting back to the classroom.

As a former engineer and physics teacher, my favorite IB (DP) topic to teach was always thermodynamics. It’s one of those areas that lays the groundwork for the kinds of concepts that will quietly stalk future engineering students for years. And somewhere between wheezing up a dusty hill and dodging goats, a question popped into my head:

Are we a gas?

In a way, yes. Over the years in Africa, we expanded to fill our container. We made the most of our space—adding dogs, a baby, and all the gear that comes with them. But now we’re heading to a smaller home, a smaller volume. And physics has something to say about that.

What happens when you compress a fixed volume of gas?
(DP students, raise your hands...)
The pressure goes up.

And if you do it quickly?
The temperature rises too.

In thermodynamics, that increase in pressure and temperature can lead to explosive results—systems can break down if they’re not carefully managed. In life, the same rules apply. If you cram too much into a small space too quickly, the pressure builds. Tensions rise. Bad things can happen.

So, safety first.

We’ve taken a page from the Marie Kondo playbook and done a serious decluttering of our lives. And it helps. We’re also giving ourselves the grace of time—time to adjust, time to feel, time to be human.

Be kind to yourselves.
Transitions are rarely smooth. Don’t assume anyone else is looking out for your wellbeing—build it into your plan. Take the pressure off where you can.

And remember: even gases need space to breathe.