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Interview with Maia Comeau – Alumna of the 2005 Bucerius Summer School on Global Governance

Maia Comeau participated in the 2005 Bucerius Summer School on Global Governance. She currently is the Director of Congressional Affairs for the German Marshall Fund of the United States.

What one aspect of the Bucerius experience is the most important for you?

The summer school offered me the opportunity and privilege to take two weeks out of my daily work to study and focus, along with smart young leaders from around the world, on the relevant policy issues facing the transatlantic relationship. The vast knowledge I gained from that experience is invaluable.

What did you like most about your time with Bucerius and the ZEIT-Stiftung?

I loved the opportunity to meet so many other young people from around the world and to learn from them both professionally and personally. It really was an opportunity of a lifetime.

What do you value most in the Bucerius family?

I value the connection that I feel to so many people who have shared the Bucerius experience. I occasionally run into somebody who “did Bucerius”, and it’s exciting to figure out which program brought them to Hamburg and why. I’m grateful for the new American Friends of Bucerius because they really do a terrific job keeping American alumni connected to the school and foundation.

What did you enjoy most while in Hamburg?

Hamburg is a beautiful city. Fortunately, it rained for most of the two weeks of the summer school, so we were all a little more inclined to stay in the classroom and focus on the working sessions. Had we seen the sun shining through the windows of our work room, we all might have been a bit more distracted. The rain did take a break, however, just in time for our boat-race through town.

Who do you think should be a Bucerius fellow in the U.S.?

A Bucerius fellow in the U.S. should be a German who emulates the spirit and legacy of Gerd Bucerius. He/she should be a master communicator who is an internationalist and can easily build bridges between Americans and the world.

What should every American know about Bucerius?

Every American should know who Gerd Bucerius was, what he did, and, consequently, what his foundation is doing to promote international scholarship, education and artistic creativity.

What can Bucerius learn from the U.S.?

Promoting international exchange and learning is one of the best ways to ensure that the transatlantic relationship remains strong, and this is precisely why Bucerius is so important. We can all learn so much from other. There are many answers I could have to this question, but I think that one of America’s greatest strengths is its focus on creativity and entrepreneurialism. Americans learn, from an early age, how to be flexible and how to reinvent oneself whenever necessary.

What is your biggest extravagance?

I like to travel well. I exchange miles so that I can fly business, I like a hotel with robes, slippers and high thread-count linens, and I almost always get a massage while on the road. My first trip to Europe was with a backpack and a youth hostel pass. I vowed I would never do that again.

What is your current state of mind?

I’m very content, calm, and clear-headed. Admittedly, this is a bit unsettling, so every now and then I have some existential angst about why I ‘m so content.

What German proverb do you like most?

Is it wrong that I don’t know any German proverbs?