In 2013 there was a big train crash in Spain, Syrian children died of nerve gas and the Philippines got hit by a major typhoon, while Edward Snowden dramatically demonstrated the relativity of privacy. The Boston marathon got startled by a bombing, a Nairobi shopping mall got invaded by terrorists. Belgium changed Kings from Albert to Filip, the Vatican traded Benedictus for Franciscus.
In Thirteen, Europe didn't fall apart and the recovery from crisis times has really begun. May Europe really overcome its internal struggles in 2014 and may European solidarity regain its true meaning. May Ryanair fly you to pretty European cities! May new generations of European students become the continent's ambassadors, educated in different countries through Erasmus exchanges. From Belgium to Denmark, Germany through Greece, in Romania or Spain, places are beautiful and people are pretty. May you discover the continent, great in diversity! A Europe which can unify and aid where necessary and preserve all the unique cultures, is a wonderful project which deserves your optimism and encouragement! For the people from Belgium, I wish for us to be a bit more conscious and proud of the great things our little but beautiful country possesses, and of course that we may be victorious at the World Cup in Brasil!
A year ago, I wrote
here about my
New Year's resolutions for the past year. I announced I would start to play the piano again, as well as to
learn the Danish language and speak it fluently. I did buy myself an electric piano and have played it a bit, albeit not nearly regularly enough to really improve on my (very basic) skill level. I have spent most of the year in Danish class at
LaerDansk, where I unfortunately missed the exam of the final module 5, as I was in the US in November. However, people will now have a hard time gossiping about me in my presence, and I can watch
Borgen without subtitles.
So perhaps there is still a little bit of room for improvement for both - does anyone know a nice piano teacher in Aarhus? And for my Danish colleagues,
så snakker vi kun på Dansk! Jeg kan godt forstå det,
du må bare hjælpe mig lidt! - but largely, mission accomplished! The biggest personal achievements during the year Thirteen have really been job related. I published
a paper in Summer and had
another one accepted for publication. I talked about this last one - of which I am especially proud and in which we discovered a new interesting exoplanet! - at MIT and at Harvard and presented it on a poster at the NASA Kepler conference. I've been to the
US three times in the past year, I
operated a telescope for the very first time in La Palma, I had a great summer school at the beautiful Onsala in Sweden. I've been teaching students about exoplanets, during a course which only two years ago was my own very first introduction to the research field.
'13 for me has also meant really settling down in Aarhus. Many nice new friends have made me feel at home. While an international environment inevitably means no one stays forever - sadly,
Sandra, one of the nicest people who was there from day one of my Erasmus experience, went back to Spain a few weeks ago - I have high hopes for there to be some lasting friendships nevertheless. Finding a lovely apartment in the middle of town and an even greater roommate Catalina has also played a big role in calling Aarhus home!
As publicly announcing resolutions appears to be beneficial for their chances of success, here it is again. In 2014 I intend to explain more astronomy to everyone. Many scientists do really great research, largely funded by tax payer's money. Unfortunately is often complex and difficult to bring to a broad audience. I will make my own little contribution by attempting to explain some of the universe's most interesting mysteries to anyone that may be interested. I will be happy to talk about extra-solar planets which may be quite like or unlike our Earth and some of which may have life. No matter your scientific background, as long as you are interested or intrigued. Secondly, I want to find the time in 2014 to travel for longer than two weeks and discover a country I haven't seen before.
What I finally wish for everyone for 2014 is spelled out in the Holstee Manifesto at the bottom of this page. This is your life. Do what you love, and do it often. Life is short. Live your dream. Wear your passion. Hello 2014! Happy New Year!
Vincent
