thesis - IRS, The Infrared Spectrograph

174 Acknowledgementstime to the SWS. And of course, I am grateful to Thijs de Graauw for building the instrument.I would like to thank Hennie, Jackie, Gineke, Greta, Engelien, Petra and Els for helping mewith the amazing world of dutch bureaucracy. I am grateful to Wim, Eite, Kor and Martinfor your assistance with my computer’s problems and George for his cheerful Buenos diasseñores every morning. I am grateful to SRON, NWO, LKBF and Kapteyn Institute for thefinancial support during my PhD research.It is a pleasure to thank all the IRS team at Cornell University on the other side of theAtlantic, and especially Jim Houck, Don Barry, Bernhard Brandl, and Laurie McCall. I feltwarmly welcomed during my visit and I am looking forward to start working with you.Groningen has been a wonderful experience and many people are responsible for thisfeeling. Thank you all very much, you made my thesis to has less chapters :)Me gustaria agradecer ante todo a Emilio y a Íñigo su amistad. Conoceros ha sido lomejor que me ha pasado aqui. Es increible la de cosas que nos han pasado juntos. Sinduda nuestro viaja a Ibiza fue memorable, especialmente el dia de mi cumpleaños; el Emilioescuchando truenos a las 6:00 am, el diluvio que nos cayó en el coche, la tienda llena debarro, el Íñigo que pierde la sandalia y le pica una avispa, en fin... y acabamos en el karaokecantando la bamba con subtitulos en italiano. Sabed os voy a echare de menos y que esperoque me visiteis y que nuestra amistad sea para siempre. César y Lulu, vuestra amistad laaprecio muchisísimo. Esas tardes matando dragones y gigantes hasta las tantas de la nochehan sabido a mucho. Gracias César por esas charlitas sobre furgo para amenizar el dia enel curre, y por tu ayuda con el dishoso papeleo que hay qye hacer para defender la tesis.Leticia, te debo el haber venido a Groningen, que no es poco, gracias. Te seguí la pista desdeCanarias, pero me temo que no te podre seguir a Ginebra. Os espero a tí y a Carlos con losbrazos abiertos en Cornell. A Jorge y a Isa les debo decenas de cenas. Esos peaso de cocidosy las partiditas a la marrana los recuerdo con mucho sabor.Mercedes, it has been very nice meeting you. I think we managed pretty well livingtogether and sharing the office for 4 years!! Jacquie, it has been very nice sharing the officewith you, especially those meaningless but enjoyable discussions. Thanks of course for takingcare of my english and for your phone calls to cheer me up in the last phase of the thesis. Ihope we stay friends wherever we end up. What can I say about my favourite Belgian couple?Choco-Els, thaaaaanks a lot for being my dutch translator and for explaining me that thoseannoying bumps in the spectrum were PAHs (who could have guess it...?). Mr. Juan, thanks,you have save my butt many times with the IDL and many more things, I am more thangrateful to you. Henrik, we both were finishing our thesis at the same time. Because of that,we have share many ups and down. I am glad that I will be meeting you at Cornell. Andthanks to Jamie who show me NY. Steph, it has been great to have you as a house mate,and... tu est minable!! Hans, I missed those beers in the Storm. Willem, the trip to the NACwas memorable. Enzo, sorry about the 7up... Alvaro, como pudiste haber perdido las llaves?Esperame en Baltimore! Eline and Annette, when I was feeling down I have found a lot ofcomfort by talking to either of you. Thanks for listening to me and for trying to cheer me up.Annette, too bad we could not go for the meeting of the Clan Ferguson (we will go next year),and E.T. thanks for all your postcards! Jelte, thanks a lot for translating my dutch summary.I have liked very much our conversations on F1, and I hope next year Heerenveen and Betismake it to the Champions!! Peter and Wilfred, I have enjoyed very much going out with you,especially to the Storm. These last months I have been too busy but I hope to make it upnow that I am done. Prepare your livers!! Giuseppina, thanks for your easy going and good