Roger Bonner, a native Swiss, was born in Geneva but grew up in Los Angeles, California. When he returned to Switzerland in his early twenties, he suffered severe culture shock. He realised he would have to live without palm trees and also learn to speak German. Over the years, however, he has integrated so successfully that he now even dreams in Schwyzerdüütsch! He worked for many years in the Basel pharmaceutical industry, first as translator and English teacher, then as editor and medical writer until taking early retirement.