As I sit in the airport waiting for my flight, I can’t help but think about all of the amazing experiences I had in the last two weeks. I feel as though I got quite acclimated to the hotel, the surrounding area, and using the trams. Even using basic introductory phrases in the Czech language were becoming habitual.
In terms of engineering, I am glad to have gotten a well-rounded perspective of various sectors within the Czech Republic. I am also very grateful for our immersive daytrip to Škoda, as the company is one of the most prominent in the Czech automotive industry. Seeing the manufacturing process and the assembly line was very engaging.
As a civil engineering student, traveling about the city and experiencing the roads and buildings firsthand was really impactful in itself. For being such an old city, Prague has an impressive transportation system. There are many tram routes with trams coming by frequently. There is also an underground metro system, as well as busses. Even besides these modes of transportation, the city is incredibly walkable. While the cobblestones weren’t the nicest on my feet, I was in awe of the dynamic and efficient transportation system in place. It is vastly different from the U.S., where in many locations, a car is necessarily to travel quickly and realistically from point to point.
We checked out some really impressive buildings, from castles to cathedrals to repurposed buildings in the city center. My favorite has got to be St. Barbara’s Cathedral. Between the stunning stained glass art, the supporting arches, and the super tall ceilings, the space felt incredibly tranquil and special. I look forward to doing more research on the repairs done to this building in order to maintain it while also not risking structural failures.
These are just a few of the moments that stuck out to me as I was reflecting. There is so much to unpack from this trip, and it is one that will stay with me forever as an engineer and as a human being.
Swanson School of Engineering 