Today we arrived in Enschede! We first started by taking a tour of the University of Twente. It was interesting to see the architecture of the housing, educational buildings, and statues. Compared to Pitt, these structures were more modern and similar-styled. I also noticed they have more water fountains outside because they have filtering systems for their rivers and lakes. The inside of the buildings felt very inviting due to the calm lighting and open space. It was definitely different from Benedum at Pitt!

After this, we recieved a lecture about water management in and around campus. We specifically learned about the Kristalbad, a park which provides water purification, flood and drought management, and wildlife security. As rainfall occurs, it flows down to the Kristalbad where 187 million liters of water can be stored. Here it goes through purification with a three step cycle. It first enters a marsh which naturally breaks down nutrients by slowing down the water. This allows the sediment to flow to the bottom. From here, the water flows through reed beds which trap the sediment with their dense roots. Lastly, it goes through wetlands which absorb organic pollutants with the surrounding plants. This process allows the water to become biologically safe and active for wildlife.

Lastly, we had an organized event with the University of Twente students. This event was in the engineering building yet in a bar. It was very shocking to wrap my head around the fact that students were partying and doing drinking games in a place where they also do their projects. It was a completely different culture from Pitt. Although it felt weird, I could see how this is safer because of how the University organizes it, providing a more secure and supported way of drinking. In the event, we were able to network with the Dutch students while getting to know their day to day. They were lots of fun and suprisingly very welcoming!