"At +1 319 930 6339," writes Mara Genschel on the genesis of her roughbook, "I could have been reached by phone between Aug. 20 and Nov. 2, 2016, by anyone who would have been in the know that I had accepted the offer to officially represent German literature for that period at 430 North Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA 52242 (USA). My very inexpensive American cell phone, however, remained unused until I discovered that the learning curve of its rustic corrective function could be revealingly closely matched with my fallibility both as a national representative and as a temporary academic American. I began to jot down reflections in which to reflect on my partially desperate situation in dilettante fashion I felt no shame as the device still outdid me by an embarrassment or stupidity.