Fitting in with the Smart Kids

Picture the lunch room in a highschool movie, let's say 10 Things I Hate About You or Clueless. Off in one corner sat some kids playing guitar talking about Zep and Hendrix. Not too far off one might find the cheerleeders and jocks, the pre-maturely careerist preppy kids, or even a cameo of greasers for old times sake. Eventually you get to the geeks, and their sister group the type A, excellent student, competative, involved, student counsel types. This isn't real life, and I never thought of myself as one or the other, but I have had the similar sense that with only a bachelor behind me I've been missorted into a group of people with publications and advanced degrees- more like a nerd into the jock group than anything else.

Since January I've been a guest at the German Institute for Economic Research (DIW). It's among the biggest and best economic research organizations in Germany and in Europe. They do both academic work, consulting and policy advice. The President, Dr. Klaus Zimmerman, was actually at the University of Pennsylvania for a stay quite some time ago. So there's your Philly connection. Check out the link because they publish interesting weekly commentary and discussion papers.

Last week was the yearly party. I have to admit that my imagination was of a bunch of economists sitting around and not really doing much more than a glass of wine with dinner, and some long speeches.

I was dead wrong. There are some econ folks who can get down, and that there are tons of young doctoral students, and interns packed into the place, made for a pretty entertaining evening.

In the prior two days, we had been visited by the institute's Academic Advisory Board. This is a body that prepares the institute for evaluation, and are professors with relevant expertise from outside the institute. There were some meetings, the German "coffee & cake" and presentations of recent projects.

Combined with the annual party, this experience solidified a growing sense of belonging and attachment to my coworkers. After half a year as a guest, I have had the opportunity to get involved in their work, exchange ideas, go out with them and form friendships. That I was so happily accepted is amazing to me, and I am very thankful for that.

I remember a moment from last week's party: I had just met a member of another department for the first time and was asking her about her research. She also asked me sincere and interested questions about my own work. "A community of scholars" -A phrase that had been pounded into me during four years at Fairfield University popped into my head. Everybody treates each other here as pretty equal, the amazing realization was that they treat me that way too. It was a cool feeling to be included in that kind of community. The room was filled with people who despite having every right to be haughty, weren't at all. There is of course politics, and careerism in academics in Germany, but for the folks I know here, it's mainly about the ideas, and a pure curiosity.