Max Planck

I did mention earlier that in the middle of all the Benelux chocolate, beer, cute buildings, very green country-side and chips, that I was planning a nerdy detour. And so now I find myself at the Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics in Nijmagen, West Netherlands.

This is one of the coolest places in linguistics in the last ten years (within a very specific, academic definition of cool). My former supervisor has been here doing research work and very kindly arranged a visit.

It has been amazing to see such a high caliber institute. The facilities are second to none, and the people are incredibly enthusiastic, passionate and very very smart. The downside as been that I haven't really used my brain in an academic capacity, or followed much linguistics for the last 12 months - but I have perfected my ability to smile and nod as though I understand what people are talking about.

This afternoon I'm off to Brussels so I'll be able to slide back into the less brain-stretching holiday mode that I've been in for a while now, and return to my usual hobbies of looking at old buildings and eating.