We began our day at Charles University for a lesson on the modern history of the Czech Republic. While I’m not a history buff, I gained a lot of knowledge. Our lecturer took a geographical approach to explain to us the impacts of WW2 on the Czech Republic. A major theme I noticed is the diversity of political party within the country. Prior to WW2, 5 parties existed, including Republican, Democratic, and Nationalist parties. Currently, this country operates much differently in a political sense. This lesson left me with an appreciation for the resilience of the Czech people. I also was fascinated at how such a place can withstand so many different societal systems.
Later in the day, we had the opportunity to check out Podolí Waterworks. This was of particular interest to me as I am a civil engineering major. With Czech being a landlocked country, water flows outwards, meaning the Czechs must source water from below the ground and from the river. However, in earlier ages, people were very aware of the dangers of drinking raw water and would opt for beer as an alternative beverage instead (with low alcohol concentration). Our guide also discussed the different materials of pipe used. Although Prague is so old, it is perfectly safe (and common) to drink straight from the tap water, so my peers and I refilled our bottles at bathroom sinks. Overall, I feel deep admiration for the Czech Republic, as it has had to adapt to so much.
Swanson School of Engineering 