Teaching European History to students in Northern California is exciting, challenging, and rewarding; modern European cultures and societies are often simultaneously familiar and strange for American students. In my teaching I strive to explain the often complex problems and conflicted histories of European countries while at the same time reinforcing or even awakening the students' interests in the material. History is not about memorizing dates and events, but centers on the interpretation of historical processes and the creation of narratives based on the historical records. In my courses I emphasize discussion and student interaction, accompanied by a manageable but eclectic assignment of primary sources and historical interpretations that shed light on the interplay between larger historical patterns and individual lives. The University of the Pacific, with its small class settings and friendly atmosphere, provides an ideal learning environment for this approach. I also regard the teaching of history as a contribution to the transcultural understanding between Europe and the U.S. In my experience, learning about the conflicts, accomplishments, and challenges of European history are a powerful and fascinating way to make students reflect on their own roles in the historical process and on the often subtle differences and similarities between the historical past and the students' own lives.