Coming From Europe

Coming from Europe, my impression of America was based on such television shows as "Dallas," which was not great. However, I was pleasantly surprised when I spent two years, from 1991 to 1993, at Washington State University in the small town of Pullman, WA, for my post doctoral studies. I enjoyed myself immensely.

When I had the opportunity to work at Ames in the middle of the Bay Area, I unfairly expected to have the same type of life style you get from a small town. So needless to say I am still learning to cope with an additional eight million people around me. People appear to be more insular and difficult to communicate with. However, the landscape itself is very beautiful with ample opportunity for outdoor sports and activities, and so while it is not easy, in some ways I think I can survive.