Dear Prof. Shintake
This spring I visited Japan for the first time since my time with RIKEN as a research fellow in 2006. The two months I spent with your group as a doctoral exchange student participating in the soft X-ray free-electron laser project (SCSS) at the SPring-8 synchrotron research center in Hyogo was a memorable and enjoyable experience.
Apart from the visits to the facilities and participation in project meetings and simulation studies, I remember in particular the hospitality of everyone at SPring-8. It was a friendly workspace where I made friends and participated in many activities. The RIKEN staff were always friendly and helpful, and they offered a great variety of scientific and non-scientific activities.
What comes to my mind especially is the radiation safety course that I undertook when I first started my work at the lab. The course was in Japanese only, and our secretary, Takami Morishita, worked very hard to interpret the instructor's directions into English for me. But the best thing about the course was that I was able to make my own measurements of radiation dosage as a function of distance. It’s a simple but impressive experiment, especially if it is done in a foreign language.
I also fondly remember my Japanese classes with Kitamura-sensei twice a week. The class has been a great aid in improving my Japanese and understanding customs and people in Japan. Kitamura-sensei's patience and friendliness were a great help.
Most of all, however, I remember the fun of our group trip to Ieshima island. It was one of my first weekend trips anywhere in Japan, and I enjoyed the time spent with my research group colleagues. I particularly remember the Japanese-style lunch we had and the many sightseeing spots that you described so well in English. Ieshima is a beautiful fishermen's island and you taught me much about country life in Japan.
After my stay at Spring-8, I returned to Germany to finish my PhD in physics. I then started a career in energy consulting, and I have been working for a Swiss company managing power plants for the past two-and-a-half years. I plan to switch to a new company soon, where I will lead a group consulting German municipalities in power plant optimization.
Despite my change from academia to industry, I continue to hear much from the accelerator community about the construction of the SCSS accelerator and the great success you have achieved with the free-electron laser. My congratulations to you and your team on the good work. The SCSS is a great project and I feel fortunate to have been able to participate.
My time at RIKEN was a wonderful experience and I am grateful to the many people who helped me find my way around and enjoy all aspects of life in Japan. I tell my friends about it often and will keep my time at RIKEN as some of my fondest memories.
Best regards,
Kathrin Goldammer
Falckensteinstr, Berlin, Germany
