Often at a meal among academics I marvel that we are 6, 7, or even 8 people all born in different countries. I don’t think I’ve ever reached 10 or more.

Here’s a variant of the same game, and surely my best score for a lifetime. I’m at a conference this week with 38 participants, and they all have different first names! I feel I’ve won the lottery.

Akil, Anil, Annan, Astrid, Barbara,
Cade, Chris, Daan, Dan, Evan,
Grady, Heather, Heike, Karl, Kaitlynn,
Keaton, Kyle, Levent, Lihong, Lucas,
Mark, Mike, Nick, Petar, Sam,
Sean, Simon, Serkan, Stefano, Steffen,
Tatyana, Tobi, Toby, Tony, Victor,
Vladimir, Yuji, Zoran

[10 April 2025]