Ph.D.-studies at UCSD in California, 1995

I had an academically very productive year. Both because I was alone and without a car (no distractions), and because I highly enjoyed my work on the Amazon project with Clive Granger, Diana Weinhold, and Ling-Ling Huang.
The Economics Department at UCSD is excellent, and the extensive interactions between students and faculty create a very good research atmosphere. The library facilities are also superb. Here is the main library, which looks like something from outer space that just landed.
Social life was a little low, though. From Denmark, England, and Kazakhstan I was used to some very happy social hours in the Friday Bar with faculty and students, but that was completely absent in San Diego. Ryan and I tried to start up a Friday Bar tradition, but interest faded very quickly and we gave up after a few weeks.
Two Californian families, the Holmes's and the Hahn's, acted as substitute families for me that year. George and Carol Hahn were voted "Host Family of the Year" and that was definitely deserved. I also spent some very pleasant weekends with Jesper's old host family from Riverside. Here is Julie, John, and Richard at a great Mexican restaurant in the Old Town of San Diego.
The best period, however, was when my parents and my sister came to spend a couple of weeks with me during the summer. Here is Anders, Kirsten, and Helle eating sushi at my patio. It is amazing how cheap housing is in one of the richest areas of United States. I was particularly fond of the swimming pool and the jacuzzi, which were rarely used by anybody but me.
We rented a car and made a good trip around California. It is an amazingly beautiful state with lots of variation. Here we are enjoying a cold Corona somewhere along highway 1 while waiting for the sun to set in the Pacific Ocean.
On our way between Las Vegas and San Fransisco, we went trough both Death Valley and Yosemity National Park. In Death Valley, the temperature was above 50 degree Celcius, and it was only possible to be out of the car for a minute or two. Later in the day, we were making snowballs at Yosemity.
We also had to visit Disney Land in Los Angeles, and in contrast to all expectations, my father actually enjoyed it. He was very impressed by the attention to detail, but after 9 hours there, he really needed to get out and have a beer. Here is my mother in line for the new Indiana Jones ride. My father and my sister opted for the activities without lines.