I have spent the last week in Leiden, working with Dr. Nina Hatch on some VIMOS-IFU data. Academically, it was the best experience I had as an undergraduate. Though there are tons of papers I should read to understand the intelligent part behind the somehow “mechanical” work I feel I am doing now, I think I don’t exaggerate calling this week a very fruitful one. However, this is neither the place, nor the format, to elaborate more on my visit to the Leiden Observatory, so I’ll go to some more funny happenings.
While in Leiden, I received the best compliment in a long time! It came pretty much unexpected, in the middle of a heated conversation (one in a long series) I had with the owner of the BB I lived in. Terribly angry after I had asked her what are the average rents in Leiden (why on Earth?!), she complained that I don’t listen to her and blamed it all on my “very German attitude” (sic!). Although the “not listening” part was not true and without any intention of being (too) sarcastic, I must say that a critique has never sounded better!
