This month Natural Selections interviews Andrea Geoghegan Procko, Graduate Fellow in the Laboratory of Yeast Molecular Genetics (Fred Cross Lab). Country of Origin: USA

1. How long have you been living in New York?
I moved here in August 2003 to start my PhD.

2. Where do you live?
For the entirety of my time here, I’ve lived in Graduate Student Residence (GSR) on campus. I’ve upgraded apartments a few times, but have settled in a one-bedroom on the top floor.

3. Which is your favorite neighborhood?
I think my favorite neighborhood is very mood-dependent. Still, for me, nothing beats Central Park. I probably owe a piece of my sanity to Olmsted and Vaux. I love people-watching or wandering around the Ramble until there’s no one in sight. I clear my head by running there and love going to shows there during the summer.

4. What do you think is the most overrated thing in the city? And underrated?
Overrated: Shopping at chain stores and/or eating at chain restaurants that you can find everywhere else. Underrated: The uniqueness of all the neighborhoods. It would be an absolute outrage if New York ever became too homogeneous and lost the character that exemplifies this city.

5. What do you miss most when you are out of town?
Being able to get around so easily. Not needing a car for transportation is very unique in American cities. The subways and buses are impressive, and in a pinch, it’s nice to be able to hail a cab at pretty much any hour.

6. If you could change one thing about NYC, what would that be?
Fewer cars. Traffic here is crazy, and I just don’t see the point to most of it on such a tiny island.

7. Describe a perfect weekend in NYC.
My perfect weekend would be in mid-May (with the azaleas in full bloom at Rockefeller). As for what to do, there are of course too many choices for one weekend. It would involve some combination of getting outside (usually a loop in Central Park; otherwise, biking along the west side is one of my favorites, especially when they have free kayaking), eating good food (including a trip for dim sum in Chinatown and a long brunch at a sidewalk café), finding a little culture (maybe a visit to the Natural History Museum or a free performance outdoors), BBQing at Rockefeller or having a game night with friends, and still having time to wander and get lost somewhere new. I guess it might have to be a long weekend.

8. What is the most memorable experience you have had in NYC?
I met and married my husband in NYC, so my most memorable experience will be pretty personal. Having our families and friends gather for our reception was certainly a highlight.

9. If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
We’re thinking of giving the West Coast a try next, so in that case, I’d pick San Francisco. But, I could probably be happy a lot of places in the long run.

10. Do you think of yourself as a New Yorker? Why?
No. I always had a timer on my stay here. I’m so thankful I got to experience it, but it never felt permanent to me. It might be a hang-up from being an Air Force Brat. Home is where family is to me, not a place. However, I do hope to have an excuse to continue to return and see the changes over time. I’ll miss it a lot more than I ever expected to.