Today we met in the lobby at 6:15–our earliest morning yet–to drive three hours to the glass factory. About an hour in, something happened to the tire, which resulted in an hour of sitting at a car shop while it got replaced. By the time we got to the glass museum, we only had time…
Tag: claire gendron
Oh How I Love A Green Roof
The day began with a trip to the company Nano Energies, a growing company of 130 employees that models energy with aggregation by controlling the capacity at which devices operate such as biogas stations, biomass stations, small power plants, generators, lights, compressors, and refrigeration devices. One of the central ideas was that they use the…
Frolicking in Business Casual
Today we visited the Kunsthalle “art collection” to learn about how it was created and to connect with Pitt Alumni at the Alumni event. The day started with a lecture from the director and architect on the history of the museum. It used to be a transformer station. It was cleaned to remove heavy metals,…
It (Bear)ly Even Rained
We took a three hour bus to Český Krumlov, a small town with 12,000 inhabitants that fills with tourists everyday. The Vltava flows around the town in a horseshoe shape. It was wonderful to wander the streets and stop into the little shops filled with toys and trinkets, souvenirs and clothing, food and drinks… We…
Czech Food Is Alright
I got a good night of sleep, so I enjoyed the scenery from the bus on the way to Kunta Hora today. We toured the Church of the Assumption of Our Lady and Saint John the Baptist and the Sedlec Ossuary where bones from over 40,000 people were placed in intricate layered towers and nailed to…
Striking Gold
They say that the countryside of the Czech Republic is beautiful to drive through. I wouldn’t know. I fell asleep within five minutes of getting on the bus. We arrived at CEZ, and they told us about their plans for sustainable energy and carbon neutrality by 2030. I found it ironic, though, that they only…
Prosím and Pilsner
After another fabulous breakfast at the hotel (I can’t get over this buffet still) we headed to Charles University for two lectures on language and economics in the Czech Republic. In-between, we enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Chez Louvre. Throughout the trip, we got to spend a little bit of time at Charles University and…
Magical Musical Moments
My day began with breakfast and journaling at the hotel, then we took the train to Central Bohemian Innovation Center (SIC). This company visit was exciting and eye-opening. We learned about how they help companies grow and innovate with financial support, marketing strategies, and connecting research companies. We had a quick lunch and stroll through…
There Are More Languages Than You Think
Another delightful breakfast, followed by a short walking tour on our way to Charles University where we learned more about Czech history and had the chance to ask questions to our knowledgable and enthusiastic teacher. This was followed by a scavenger hunt around Prague, where my team got the dub. Then we had an aesthetic…
Hradčany Highs and Laughable Lows
Today was full of exciting sights and scenery, which filled me with ideas and inspiration for what the rest of the trip is going to look like. It was full of highs and lows; both metaphorically and literally. My non-timezone-acclimated body woke up at 6, so I took a stroll around town, took photos, and…
Taking It All In
After three flights and a long day of traveling, I thought I’d be exhausted; yet when we arrived in Prague, I was ready to hit the ground running. The energy in this city is electric. We have such a great group of students and faculty that every moment feels special and valuable. I am most…
Czech Me Out
Hello! My name is Claire Gendron, and I am a senior in Environmental Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh, also pursuing a sustainability certificate. I did a Co-op at Tetra Tech where I learned the intricacies of various civil engineering projects. I will start an internship at Wade Trim this summer upon my return from…