In summer of 2002 I moved with my family from Germany to Florida. For good. The first job I held here and still do provided me with a work area of about 1.5 x 1.5 = 2.25 square meters. I was in shock. Culture shock. I probably still am.

The abundance of space granted to the Avenues of America seems to be inversely proportionate to the daily space allowance its workers get in so-called cubicles: windowless, padded grey boxes, open on two of its six sides (one to step in and one on top for the odors to escape), that are as spartanic as noone who has never seen this before could imagine: a desk, a phone, a computer, a chair. Roberto Benigni would say: "there isn't enough room to swing a cat".

Is this where great ideas are born? Is real estate that expensive? Is this how employers think of their employees in this country?

I have half my life left to find the answers to these questions. Welcome to America.