After hours of travel across the Atlantic, we embarked on a guided walking tour around Prague, led by our host Jana. She provided us with invaluable knowledge and a deep appreciation for the city. Particularly, she explained some of the history behind the Charles Bridge.
The Charles Bridge is a stone arch bridge that replaced the previous Judith Bridge, which had been damaged by the flooding of the Vltava River. When I was researching to apply to this program, I was interested in Prague’s location at the epicenter of Europe, being a technological and innovative hub. I learned today that the Charles Bridge was critical in connecting the East and West regions of Prague, and furthermore, Eastern and Western Europe.
It was fascinating to see the historical architecture alongside this stunning bridge, as it puts into perspective how critical this bridge was as a means of moving Prague residents around the city.
Today, as we walked around the city, I was able to talk with many of my peers and exchange thoughts. For some it was their first time in Europe at all, while others were more familiar with the lay of the land.
While I’ve been to Europe once before, I certainty experienced some culture shock. It was a little tricky at first to approach tasks as simple as ordering food. As the day went on, I began to feel more confident and comfortable with my surroundings.
Swanson School of Engineering 