Old books or new media? I don’t spend much time on social media these days. I think I had my fill during the pandemic. I’m a historian, and I’ve always loved old things. I got my interest in history from my mother. She bought a newspaper for each of her children on the day they were born, and gave it to us once we were old enough to understand what it was. It was her way of teaching us to think about the world we live in – how it came to be the way it is.
Old books are a tangible link to the past. Reading the travel guides in our collections feels like walking in the footsteps of people who lived centuries ago. Everything about them fascinates me – leafing through the pages, the illustrations, handwritten notes in the margins, the smell of old paper…
"We thought we'd stay in England. With Brexit coming up, we needed a plan B. We ended up in Maastricht"
I believe in love at first sight. Not really. But with Janosch… When we first met, I thought, “There’s something special about this guy.” I immediately felt at ease with him, even though we’d only known each other for a few hours. And seventeen years later, I still feel the same.
He’s German. We both did our PhDs in England and thought we’d stay there, but the job market had other plans. With Brexit coming up, we needed a plan B. We ended up in Maastricht – he became an assistant professor at FASoS in 2019, and I started working at the University Library in 2022. I’ve landed exactly where I hoped to be, in an archive, just with a different backdrop and language.
What’s the last compliment you received? Someone told me my Dutch was good. When I first moved here, I was very self-conscious speaking Dutch; I’d blush and stumble over my words. That’s changed a lot, and it’s nice to hear that people appreciate the effort I’ve put into learning the language.
"My home country, the US, is becoming an oligarchy, where billionaires buy up media and exert influence over them"
What used to frustrate you? I was disappointed we didn’t live on the east coast of the US, where the country’s oldest buildings are. I’m from Southern California, where the oldest building dates from the nineteenth century. Does that count as frustration, though? I was a happy child. I was 5 when my parents divorced, but I don’t really remember that. At my mother and stepfather’s house, there were seven of us children; at my father and stepmother’s house, there were three of us. I do miss being in a big family, we got along well, but sometimes I appreciate having the house all to myself. I remember myself as being shy, but everyone says I was the loudest one.
What news makes you angry? Can I just laugh instead of answering? Otherwise, I might cry. I’m angry with the US media. In the run-up to the elections, they failed to report accurately and impartially. When a Democrat did something wrong, it got a lot of attention, but the stories coming out about Trump were downplayed. My home country is becoming an oligarchy, where billionaires like Jeff Bezos buy up media outlets and exert influence over them.
"I was never the kind of child who'd throw the board across the room if I lost a game"
Rich or famous? Rich! Growing up in Los Angeles, in the heart of the film industry, I’ve seen the burden of fame – how the paparazzi chase people, how hard it is for celebrities to be themselves. What would I do with the money? Buy a historic house in the centre of Maastricht, help out friends and family, and support good causes like the theatre group for deaf and hard-of-hearing children I worked with in high school. I got involved through one of my best friends, who is partly deaf. Acting helped those children get used to their hearing aids and learn to speak. It really had a positive impact on their lives.
My parents think I’m … Um… [long pause] serious. But also quirky and easy-going. I was never the kind of child who’d throw the board across the room if I lost a game. I played a lot of sports, which taught me to play fair and cope with losing – valuable lessons for adults as well.
"I eat a lot of meat, though I'm truying to cut back to reduce my environmental impact"
What's the hardest thing you've been through? Getting my PhD. My dissertation was excellent, but there was a conflict of interest with two of the examiners, who managed to sway the committee to their side – I had to resubmit it. My research undermined much of the work of one of them; I think she saw me as a threat. I had to take legal action to get things sorted. A new committee passed me, and I settled with the university, but I still haven’t been able to publish my dissertation. The whole process was emotionally traumatising – it’s made it harder for me to trust people.
Never fly again or never eat meat again? What a cruel question! I eat a lot of meat, though I’m trying to cut back to reduce my environmental impact. But how else would I visit my family in the US without flying? What’s that? They’d still be allowed to fly? In that case, I’d give up flying and keep my steak. I’d pay for their tickets – it seems only fair.