Prague is an extraordinary combination of old and new, both architecturally and in terms of how things are done (and in many other ways I'm sure I have no grasp of.) 

The most beautiful red-tile-roofed buildings dating back hundreds of years are right next to modern office buildings; buildings with sublime steeples and carvings are right smack next to the ugliest souvenir shops and American exports such as [really] Hooters.

Similarly -- state-of-the-art sensors and sparkplugs are made at a run-down factory by workers handling chalk/ceramic dust without masks, but then quality-checked in a sealed monitoring system which can identify the date and time, worker, serial number, etc. of the component.  Should anything turn out to be amiss with the component, very specific corrective steps can be taken and recall information could be issued. 

We've had two outstanding guides: Vaclav Storek in Prague, who led us on our three-hour journey through the city, and Rikki in Vienna, whose historical knowledge was impressive but whose tour required more time than allowed for.  Vaclav in particular was able to pace things in a way that allowed us to absorb the information, and in subsequent days in the city, I found myself recognizing landmarks, recalling some of his remarks and explanations, and remembering his directions for how to take the Metro.

Kristina from ISP has been upbeat, patient, positive, and informative. Among the many other things I've appreciated, she has kept us all well-hydrated in this stunning heat by constantly distributing water bottles from a cooler compartment at the front of the bus. 

More momentarily. ~ Elisa

Visit to Prague

   I have had the luxury to live in Europe for four years.  During that time I was able to travel around to different places and see many things.  I was not fortunate to travel to Prague during that time.  I had always been weary about it, and I still felt that way when Don announced we would be going here for the cohort's international business trip.  We arrived after a long flight and the last thing I wanted to do was take a walking tour of the city, especially in 90+ degree temperatures.  With much internal complaining, we met our guide and headed to explore the streets of Prague.  

   The area around the hotel is reminiscent of many other European cities I have visited.  Old buildings mixed with new ones, small shops and cafes, and the occasional large shopping complex.  However that all changed once the group got off of the tram in the center of the city.  The streets and alleyways are like a step back in time.  Our walked us along various souvenir, crystal and garnet shops to the famous Charles Bridge.  Although hot, the bridge had a sense for grandeur, due to its length and the numerous statues of saints looking down from either side.  From there, we walked to the Old Town Square and marveled at astronomical clock.  Further on we walked to Wenceslas Square, while our guide filled our ears with stories of Mozart, emperors, and how life was during Communist occupation. 

  The second day of the trip proved to me even more amazing.  We went on a guided walking tour of Prague Castle.  I found it amazing that the castle is still used by the current president.  The most amazing feature of the castle was St. Vitus cathedral.  The size and the detail of this church rivals any I have seen in my travels.The views from the castle are simply amazing, as you can see the entire city sprawled out below you.   Immediately after the castle tour, I went on the Segway movie tour.  Having never been on a Segway in my life, I was a little out of my comfort zone.  Those who were with could see this because when I first got on it; it almost bucked me off!  I figured ok...if this is how it is going to be, then at least I will be good for some comic relief.  After a few minutes I was able to get the hang of it and I felt more comfortable.  With the Segway, we were able to climb hills and see some parts of Prague that would have taken hours by foot.  It was also neat to learn what movies have been filmed in Prague, whether the setting was Prague itself, or another European city.

   The final view of the city I got was by boat.  We took an evening two hour cruise with jazz music, and of course, beer!  It was a relaxing time in the open air watching the various landmarks of Prague pass us by.  In contrast to the hot days, the evening cruise was very comfortable.  Everyone in our group seemed to enjoy the atmosphere, especially since our schedule was so hectic.

   Prague is a beautiful city.  I have enjoyed my time here immensely.  Above all, I have enjoyed spending time with the members of the 2014 cohort and the distinguished guests of the 2013 cohort.  Getting away from class and spending time with one another has been the best part of the trip!  I have had spending time with them with good food, good beer, and good conversation!

  

  

my time in prague

What can I say about Prague that hasn't been said already. Probably nothing. When we arrived it was hot, hottest they have seen in a while, and it only got hotter. So hot it felt like I was melting away. To top it off the a/c in the hotel seemed to barely work and the a/c at the company visits weren't much better. On top of that, elevators seemed to not want to work, the hotel only gave me a napkin to sleep with, and the drinks seemed to have been chilled in a wine fridge at red wine temperatures. Yet with all of that, I wouldn't change a thing. These experiences are what make trips like this even better, because we now all have stories that we can tell and laugh about. What made this trip priceless were the friendships that I was able to build on. The best times during the trip were spent at the bar, being able to really get to know each other. From sharing stories like annulments off the highway, not knowing where to keep your boots, shipwreck snorkeling or yodeling, I would not change this trip for anything. And if I could sum this whole experience up in one word I think it would have to be MANFASA.

Prague Experience

 I did not know much about Prague until I met Vaclav Storek.  Vaclav was one of the best tour guides I have ever encountered.  Vaclav's unique story telling about Prague's rich history and culture was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.  His knowledge helped me understand the significance of the architecture, awareness of its current political system, religious beliefs, and the appreciation for their transformation from communist rule to democracy. 

I also want to mention that I really enjoyed the time I spent with my cohort friends.  Some of my best memories are sitting in the pubs talking and laughing about our experiences.  Nothing beats Czech beer and good friends.  I will remember this trip always.  Thank you to my friends.

Prague "Team Building"

One of biggest reasons that I chose the Weekend program’s cohort structure was my eagerness to learn from others as much as the content of the courses itself.  This trip to Prague has delivered so far in that aspect as I have gotten to see and experience many of my cohort members' business acumen in different ways.  It has been remarkable to learn how others approach different business issues and am looking forward to continue to absorb much more from these international companies as well as my fellow classmates.

Prague from another point of view!

Back in 2007 I had the privilege of visiting Prague and touring the city – experiencing everything from the fun tram rides to the Prague Castle to the Communist Museum. I thought I truly saw everything there was to see in this city. But I was wrong. This trip has opened my eyes to a completely different aspect of this city – the business & manufacturing sector - and deepened my understanding of the culture here. I now have a stronger appreciation for how different the Czech Republic is from the U.S. 

One site visit in particular left a lasting impression on me. On Tuesday we went to visit Brisk, a manufacturer of spark plugs. Coming into the visit I had a strong understanding of manufacturing, having spent years walking the floor of GE’s steam turbine and gas turbine manufacturing plant. In 2008 I had a role on the Environmental, Health & Safety team and paid close attention to what GE calls PPE – personal protective equipment. The company is very strict when it comes to wearing safety goggles, steel toed boots, staying inside the yellow lines, wearing gloves, and monitoring air quality. At Brisk there was no PPE to be found! I did not see one person wearing safety goggles, nor were we (the tourists) required to wear them. Workers were wearing sandals, and it was readily apparent that the air quality was low inside the factory.  I also observed ergonomic issues. Having the appropriate posture, seating arrangement and hand position is imperative when conducting repetitive movements, as on a manufacturing line. At Brisk ergonomic red flags were everywhere!

GE also pride’s itself on the extremely low number of accidents that occur on the shop floor. One key reason for this is our “lockout, tagout” procedure. There are strict steps one must take when repairing a machine. It must be properly shut down and locked down before an employee can service the machine or part. At Brisk, I do not believe lockout – tagout exists. I observed one woman continually placing a piece of equipment on “pause” and sticking a screwdriver in the gears to correct a problem. She even stuck her fingers in the gears to move around the parts. I was so nervous watching this, I held my breath! To me, what she was doing was so incredibly dangerous, and it was sad to think that this behavior occurs every day at Brisk.

I actually asked one employee why we do not see the workers wearing safety glasses etc. and he said that they offer them to the employees but they choose not to wear them. The Czech Republic does no mandate the use of PPE. I was shocked! This experience gave me a newfound appreciation for and understanding of manufacturing outside of the U.S. I can only imagine how grave the conditions are in undeveloped countries or vast manufacturing centers such as China. I am thankful for my experience at GE because it enabled me to draw a comparison to manufacturing in another country.

Tomorrow we head to a crystal manufacturer. I fear working conditions will not be up to “GE standards” there either. But I will be thankful for the exposure. A humbling experience!

Vienna/Prague

Yesterday we went on our tour of Vienna. Having never visited Europe, it was nice to see another city. It gave me the ability to compare and contrast.  It was mostly comparison, as the architecture was also incredible. It's amazing how well maintained all the buildings are in both cities. However, it made Prague stand out even more.  You can see the visible aging of many of the structures in Vienna and there was quite a bit of restoration in process, whereas in Prague it's almost surreal how well kept everything is.

With more free time on our hands over the next two days, I look forward to being able to venture out into Prague. For anyone who hasn't been to this city, I highly recommend it.  Just enter the elevators at your own risk!

So far has been a lot of fun.  Not only have we learned a lot a out doing business internationally, we've also has some great opportunities to get to know one another and bond as a cohort.  Everyday a new adventure!!

Quick post, more to follow. Having fun with the cohorts, touring Prague and Vienna and visiting businesses.

Vienna was a beautiful city - and it is good that the class is bonding to the max; maybe at the molecular level now.  I didn't think we could get any closer - but it happened.  Together forever.  Just please not on a bus til eternity.