"It was exciting to see my homeland through the eyes of Europeans and discover their impressions of us."

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Risa Centenni

Born in Denver, Colorado, USA, 1964
B.A. German

Morningside College, Iowa, 1986

German Fluency Certification

Freie Universitaet Berlin, Germany, 1987

Areas of interest outside work

Skiing, hiking, racquetball, surfing, antiques, traveling, cultural activities

Growing up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, I loved the wholesome, safe, all-American environment of my small town, but I was also aware there was something outside of South Dakota that I needed to see. I was one of the only Asian Americans in the area, so I was naturally drawn to finding out about other peoples. My curiosity led me to become an exchange student in Denmark for a year and then also in Germany, where I stayed for 5 years. I even stood on the Berlin Wall as it came "crumbling" down in 1989! Not only did I learn about a new place, but surprisingly, I learned a great deal about America as well. It was exciting to see my homeland through the eyes of Europeans and discover their impressions of us.

Returning to the US, I hoped to continue my intercultural experiences. New York City seemed like a good place for that and a company like Schlumberger was a perfect place to end up. I now enjoy working with people from all over the world, under one roof, who work together towards a common goal.