Today was mostly spent in the classroom learning more about Prague and its engineering background!

The first half of the day was focused on the Czech language. A professor from the Charles University here in Prague taught us about the origins of the language. We also learned how Czech language was almost lost, as most of the area spoke German. Today, the language has been revitalized and is the main language spoken here. We ended the class by learned some important words and phrases that will help us communicate better during our stay in the city!

For lunch, I ventured to a nearby shopping mall where I ate in the food court surrounded by locals. I had udon noodles and vegetables cooked in front of me in a wok! It was so good, and it was exciting to immerse myself in the local culture- sitting next to students and workers on their lunch breaks! I was also able to see the moving statue of Franz Kafka’s head.

After lunch, we had another lecture about the history of engineering in Czech Republic. Because of the communist history of the country, it was very interesting to hear how the nationalized sectors of manufacturing were affected by the privatization of the market. Czech has a long history of producing cars, planes, military machinery, and other goods that greatly influence the jobs and economy of the area.

After classes were over, we headed to the Pilsner Beer Experience. This museum is brand new and walks you through the beer making history and process. We learned a lot through the interactive experience, and got to try some for ourselves at the end. We visited one more museum then headed back to the hotel for some rest.

Tonight, we plan on having a traditional Czech meal followed by some beer and foosball at a nearby bar.