I had a very wonderful experience learning about the Czech Republic today! We started in Charles University, where we learned about Czech Republic History post-WWI. I realized enjoyed learning about history from a non-US perspective, as I feel our curriculums are very geared toward how European conflicts affected the United States, not how they affected actual countries in Europe. From there, we went to the Podoli Waterworks. The tour today showed me how much the Czechs wants to make sure that everyone has access to clean water, which is something that is not as important to the American government. Here, they can drink water from the tap. Meanwhile, especially in Pittsburgh, drinking from the tap is not recommended, and people often buy their own filters to make sure their water is clean and safe. In general, I feel as though the Czechs do a better job at ensuring the health, welfare, and education of its citizens. Meanwhile, in America, most of these things come at an expensive premium. The final lecture at Charles University was very interesting to me, as I did not realize how big of a role the Czech Republic played in the manufacturing of guns and ammunition. I found it strange that they supplied these to both sides of a conflict. I am curious to know how the Czech manufacturing industry will progress in the future. I had a lot of fun today, and I can not wait for the activities tomorrow, especially the cooking class!
Swanson School of Engineering 