#ipesummer2026

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RWTH Aachen Week 5: Wanderungen in der Natur

1 - Lousberg After my German lesson on Monday, my classmates planned to go jogging at Lousberg in the evening, so I naturally went along. Lousberg is a gentle wooded hill right on the edge of Aachen's city center, one of the city's most beloved green spaces and a popular spot for locals to walk, run, and unwind. The paths wind through a mix of open meadows and dense tree cover, with the city visible through the treeline in places, making it feel surprisingly removed from urban life despite being so close. The weather was actually really cold in the morning, but by the time I got there for the jog it was super sunny and perfect for some exercise. It is about a 15 minute walk from the Ponttor bus stop.

2 - Some cool stuff I saw

Walking to the Lousberg park entrance, I passed by the massive Lindt factory right here in Aachen. Apparently there is a store there too and tours can be booked, so I will definitely go check it out sometime. Halfway through the run I also came across a really interesting circular tower in the middle of the forest called the Drehturm Belvedere. It is a historic rotating observation tower built in the early 20th century, designed so that visitors could be turned to face different panoramic views of the surrounding landscape without having to move themselves. The architecture is quirky and charming and it looks genuinely cool, so next time I want to go inside and see it properly.

Near the end of the route there is also the Tranchot-Obelisk, a stone monument erected in honour of Jean Joseph Tranchot, the French cartographer who conducted one of the first systematic topographic surveys of the Rhineland in the early 1800s. The obelisk marks one of his key surveying points, and the view from the platform up there is amazing. There are also goats grazing on the slopes below, which was a pleasant surprise.

3 - Investigating a mysterious art piece

There is also an interesting installation nearby, something like a lever with a red knob and a massive brightly coloured nuclear warning sign. I tried reading the German text and gathered it had something to do with a Belgian nuclear power plant, but I could not quite figure out what it was saying. I looked it up online and could not find any specific information about the installation itself, except that the city of Aachen has been in a long-running dispute with Belgium over the Tihange nuclear power plant, which many Aachen residents consider a genuine safety risk given how close it sits to the city. I will investigate further what this interesting piece is actually about.

I also saw a statue about the devil lending money to build the Aachen cathedral and reap the soul of the first living being to enter it once its completed but the devil was tricked by the people. There's also pictures at the Lindt factory store, a tiny library out in the wild, and extremely beautiful streets.

4 - Dreilägerbachtalsperre, Roetgen

We went hiking again, this time starting at a dam called Dreilägerbachtalsperre after a 1.5 hour bus ride from Aachen. The trail runs through a forest area called Hasselbachgraben, which sits within the Eifel nature park. The landscape here is quintessentially northern European forest: tall stands of beech and oak lining narrow paths, the ground carpeted in ferns, and small streams threading quietly through the undergrowth. The canopy is dense enough that the light filters through in long soft shafts, and the whole area has the kind of deep quiet that makes you want to slow down.

I really loved it because the forest floor was thick with moss, with tiny water ponds scattered in between since it had just rained, and everything smelled incredibly fresh. The ground was squishy underfoot, the whole place so serene and beautiful that it genuinely felt like a frame from a Ghibli film. It reminded me of Princess Mononoke.

5 - Kuhberg

At the end of the hike there is a small town called Kuhberg, which literally means "cow mountain," and it earns the name. There are small hills dotted with cows, and the houses are super modern and well kept, like some kind of utopian countryside community. Families put cow decorations outside their homes and every single house seems to have at least one, with cow statues and models appearing on rooftops and in gardens as well. There were also lots of RVs and camper trailers parked around, including tiny ones. Theres also a part of the Westwall from ww2 remaining, filled with concrete "Dragon's teeth" intended to stop the allied tanks advancing into rhein-ruhr region. It didn't work, and Eisenhower ordered them to be dismantled after the war, though there are still tens of kilometers of the westwall remaining. I fell asleep on the bus back to Aachen.

This was a peaceful week and not much happened besides lots of hiking. An easy 15k steps daily. Will update next week as we approach the halfway point of the research program!

Yuqi SUN

Department of Robotics, Robotics

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Science

Engineering – IPE: Undergraduate Research Program at RWTH Aachen in Aachen, Germany

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RWTH Aachen Week 4: Bonn, Bowling, and Baked Pasta

1 - German lessons

The German course I am enrolled in actually started on April 20th, so I had already missed 4 classes by the time I showed up, because I physically was not in Aachen until mid May. Although the class is not mandatory, the final exam is worth 100% of the grade, so I figured I had better attend and not fail, or else I would not get my transfer credits. So on Monday I finally showed up, and it was quite different from what I expected. The professor is super friendly and the class is really small, around a dozen people, so everyone already knows each other. They were all very welcoming to me as a newcomer. The class format has everyone sitting in a semicircle and the content is highly conversational, basically nonstop talking from 8:30 until the class is dismissed at 12:00 on the dot. By the end I am nearly falling asleep from how long it is, but I sat through the whole thing. If you are coming to Aachen next year, be prepared to wake up at 7:00 on Monday morning and speak German for 3.5 hours straight.

2 - Mensa (dining hall)

The dining halls here are really different from Michigan too. They are called Mensa and there are a couple around campus. The best one is at campus central near the Audimax bus station, and there is also one in the Informatikzentrum right across from where I live on Halifaxstraße 85. If you have a student blue card it is very cheap, only 3.30 euros for a lunch dish with either salad or boiled vegetables. Currently my favourites are the Swedish meatballs with potatoes and the cordon bleu with french fries, and both come with a small bowl of salad included. The lines are really long though. Another thing I do not love is that the food is not an unlimited buffet like back in Michigan, but the food quality is genuinely much better and the taste is always incredibly pleasant. It is also really inconvenient that the Mensa only opens for one meal per day, which is lunch, and closes at 2 PM, and does not open on weekends. So plan accordingly if you want to enjoy the cheap and delicious lunch.

3 - Cooking in the WG

I set a goal to master cooking one dish at a time while I am here. This week I have been focused on practicing spaghetti. Although it might seem like madness to make the same dish every single day for a whole week straight, I am quite certain the taste is improving noticeably each time. My current recipe uses cherry tomatoes and brown mushrooms combined with either Hackfleisch or Wiener to make the meat sauce, then shredded mozzarella combined with Gouda or Edammer and egg yolk to make the cheese sauce, and I have also been alternating between spaghetti and fusilli to see which one mixes better. In the end it comes out as a delicious baked pasta. I will try a completely different dish next week.

4 - Maastricht again

Because the Netherlands is so close, our UROP group went bowling there and I won. Barely, though, considering I had not played in nearly 8 years.

5 - Bonn, Haus der Geschichte

The Haus der Geschichte, or House of History, in Bonn is one of Germany's foremost museums of contemporary German history. It traces the story of Germany from the rubble of 1945 all the way to reunification and beyond, spanning the parallel lives of West and East Germany through an extraordinary collection of everyday objects, political artifacts, propaganda posters, original vehicles, and reconstructed interiors. The museum does not just present facts but immerses you in the texture of what life actually felt like across different decades, from postwar reconstruction and the Economic Miracle of the 1950s through the social upheavals of the 1960s and the political tensions that defined the Cold War era.

I barely made it through to the 1970s, with a special section dedicated to the Beatles along the way, before I realized 2 hours had already passed without me noticing. As I rushed out, I saw the exhibition continued all the way up to right now! It was recently renovated to include the current Bundeskanzler Merz, which is cool. The museum's slogan is literally "You are part of history!!" so I will definitely come back for more next Sunday to finish seeing everything. It is my favourite museum I have visited so far in Germany.

6 - Botanical garden

Afterwards we walked over to the University of Bonn's botanical garden for a Spaziergang, but the rain started falling heavily so we left early, and the train back to Aachen was also delayed by over an hour. Next time I will come back to Bonn on a day with better weather.

Bonn is also the birthplace of Beethoven, and Germany's UN city and seat of western europe along with 18 UN organisations. I'll be back next time to visit them all!!

Yuqi SUN

Department of Robotics, Robotics

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Science

Engineering - IPE: Undergraduate Research Program at RWTH Aachen in Aachen, Germany

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RWTH Aachen Week 3: Dreiländereck and Maastricht caves 

1 - Travelling to Dreiländereck, where three countries meet: Germany, Belgium, Netherlands

Dreiländereck, which literally means "three country corner" or "three lands point," is a place where the borders of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Germany all touch. It is roughly a 1.5 hour hike from SuperC, RWTH's central landmark building. Though the entire hike did not feel that long — we walked around 30 minutes to leave the city and another hour through the fields — the scenery is very calm and you can see endless stretches of farmland and plantation. The weather was also gorgeous: extremely sunny, with clouds so white they looked fake. Incredible temperature. Many people complained it was too hot, but sunny days are exactly what I miss most after spending a cold winter in Ann Arbor, because the warmth and that tingling feeling on my skin reminds me of the weather back home in Hong Kong. If you want to do this hike, I would highly advise bringing a hat and enough water, plus some fruits or snacks along the way. The difficulty is low but staying hydrated is the most important thing. I brought a carton of Durstlöscher, which literally means "thirst quencher" and is an extremely popular drink here. It tastes like sweetened tea, decent, but not exactly what I would reach for next time I actually want to quench my thirst.

2 - Manna Bunsik, restaurant recommendation 1

Since I am still waiting to get my blue card so I can eat at the Mensa (cafeteria), I have to cook breakfast, lunch, and dinner every single day, and very quickly I got tired of it. I discovered Manna Bunsik, a small restaurant with only six tables that serves quality and authentic Korean food. I ordered the Ganjang chicken rice. The price is fair and the portion is fulfilling. The chicken is stir fried with onion slices in a BBQ and soy sauce mix, coated with honey for a sweet finish, and placed on top of salad leaves and rice. I was extremely satisfied with this meal and the taste was exactly what I expected. I would highly recommend it. They also have a variety of waffle desserts and Korean corndogs, and even more menu items featuring different styles of Korean fried chicken.

3 - Auf der Hörn, restaurant recommendation 2

Another recommendation is Auf der Hörn. Since I live on Halifaxstraße, I am quite far from Aachen city center and do not want to take a 30 minute bus ride every time I want to eat out. Auf der Hörn is only a 14 minute walk from my apartment and serves both German and Italian dishes like Schnitzel and lots of handmade pizza and lasagna, as well as Turkish dishes. I tried the Kofta with tomato sauce and yogurt. Kofta is essentially elongated meatballs, though I am not sure if these were roasted or fried. The texture is grainy and quite firm, but the taste is like a better burger patty. Beneath sits bread cubes covered in tomato sauce alongside half a raw tomato. The yogurt mixes with the bread and adds a creamy finish. It is a delightful dinner at a very acceptable price and the service is great as well. Highly recommended for both the food quality and its convenient location.

4 - Bibliothek, not quite like our library

After the lab meeting, I went with my colleague Aday to study at the Bibliothek. I was really surprised to see that there are more people than books inside, and although the word simply means "library," it functions very differently from what I am used to. It is a great place to just come and study together, and I was struck by how quiet it is despite being packed with people row after row.

5 - Maastricht, Netherlands

At 9:00 AM we met outside Aachen Hbf, but the train got canceled again. Since I arrived here, the railway to Aachen has been so inconsistent, broken more often than it is functioning. So instead we took bus line 350 to Maastricht and walked around 30 minutes to Sint Pieter Fort, where the tour for North Caves Maastricht Underground begins.

The North Caves are a vast network of underground tunnels carved into the soft marlstone beneath Sint Pietersberg hill, stretching for hundreds of kilometers and even crossing into Belgium. The limestone was quarried here for centuries, and the caves run deep enough that the temperature inside stays a constant cool even in the height of summer. During the tour, our guide pointed out dinosaur fossils embedded directly into the walls, preserved in the rock since the Cretaceous period. The caves carry a layered history: nearby sections were used during World War II as shelter and evacuation routes for civilians and even for hiding artworks. One of the more memorable stories from the guide was about Napoleon's general, who invaded and attempted to bomb the caves in order to bring down the fortress above, but failed not once but twice, leaving the fort partially sunk into the ground. This apparently gave rise to a Dutch saying: when someone does something only halfway and gives up, they call it "doing it the French way."

Afterwards we explored some of the attractions around the town center and, of course, had ramen again. Could not resist.

Yuqi SUN

Department of Robotics, Robotics

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Science

Engineering - IPE: Undergraduate Research Program at RWTH Aachen in Aachen, Germany

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Ava in Sorrento | Week 2: Work Experience and more Traveling

Benvenuto!

The highlights of this past week are plentiful so I am very excited to update you guys on what I have been up to! First off, I got to visit the Ieranto Bay for the first time this past Tuesday. I will say it was quite a trek both there and back. Along with the 3 other interns, we had to take a bus by ourselves to Nerano, and then had a 45 minute hike. The views were to die for, but on the hike back we felt like we were dying (not actually but close to it). When we arrived we helped with setup and monitoring and then had a break, but afterwards is when the real work for our project began.

Views from the hike !

We got to choose which things to display for the day :)

Over the course of this 5 week work experience we will be creating an algarium, a collection of preserved algae. We put on wetsuits, flippers, and snorkeling goggles and went to work. First our supervisor showed us different areas of the bay where we could find various species of algae, and then let us collect as much as we could in pairs on our own. We collected the algae mainly off rocks by the shore, but there was also some diving involved in the process. I also had to take notes on this waterproof paper, which let me tell you was quite a struggle with all the sharp rocks and waves surrounding me. Once we collected what we hoped was a sufficient amount of algae types, we quickly dried off and changed so we could make it back to the bus stop in time for the bus. Again, the hike back was much more difficult since the hike is entirely flat or down hill on the way there, so after a full day's worth of work in the hot sun, it was quite treacherous. We did fortunately make it back in time (even with having to switch buses since we got on the wrong one the first time), and then we had to attend a 1 hour LEaD class that all the work experience/interns have to take. The following day we researched, sorted, and started the preservation process for all the algae we collected. Hopefully I will have further updates on the algarium next week!

The Ieranto bay & me sorting, identifying, and labeling all the algae we collected

Pompei and Train Transportation

Besides the mass amounts of time spent working with algae, I also furthered my travels around Italy over the weekends! Last Sunday, a group of friends and I traveled to Pompei where we visited the ancient city Pompeii (yes it is spelled differently–don’t ask me why). Pro tip: many government owned historical sites in Europe have free entry on the first Sunday of every month, so thankfully we did not have to pay for a ticket to visit. 

We took the train directly from Sorrento to Pompei, which, once you get the hang of it, it is not nearly as bad as you would think. You can buy round trip tickets at the main station in Sorrento, and then you walk upstairs to the main platform where they have a screen so you can see which platform you need to get on the train from. Then you can get on as soon as the doors open, and then you just have to monitor when you have to get off since they do not announce which stop you are at, but there are usually also signs you can see out the window. The train stops at several cities until it finally stops at Naples, which I would highly recommend especially if you are trying to travel to other places in Italy. Pro tip: it is almost always cheaper to travel somewhere out of Naples instead of Sorrento.

The Pompei train station and pictures from Pompeii!!

Once we made it inside Pompeii, it was very interesting to walk around and sightsee, however, I will say much of it looks the same once you’ve been there a while and it is very tiring to walk around due to the direct sun and how large of an area it is. Afterwards we went to a restaurant for food, and then went to a nearby mall which felt exactly like a mall in the US–it even had McDonalds and Starbucks.

The mall had so many stores, many that are in the US but also several that are not

Taking the Ferry to Ischia

After a full week of classes and working with algae, just yesterday I visited the island Ischia. My friends and I took a train to Naples and then walked for about 20 minutes to the port where the ferry leaves from. Again, there are direct ferries that leave from Sorrento, but it was less than half the price to leave from Naples, and the train is only about 3-4 euro round trip. We bought the ferry tickets when we got there instead of buying them online which is also much cheaper, and then grabbed some food from a nearby grocery store before the ferry departed.

The docks near where we got off the ferry in Ischia

When we arrived in Ischia, we bought tickets for the bus (3-4 euro round trip) to visit the Aragonese Castle. It did have a 15 euro fee, but I would say it was definitely worth it and I honestly enjoyed touring the castle over Pompeii. Both the castle and the views were gorgeous, especially since we were so high up.

Walkway to the castle, and the view from the top which was genuinely breathtaking

When we finished touring we ended up taking a taxi directly to the Negombo Springs since we were running late which was 10 euro a person (much more expensive than the bus but also more luxurious/comfortable) and began touring all the hot springs in the park. The thermal pools are one of the biggest attractions on Ischia so it made more sense to go since we spent a majority of our day there, but I don’t think it is a must do. If you want to relax by the pool or beach and take fun photos, go for it. Just know the price ranges from 35-40 euro a person which is even more in USD since the euro is more powerful.

Hot springs! There were about 20 different hot springs/pools you could visit in total

We took the bus back, which also is not extremely difficult once you try it for the first time. You can either buy tickets at a booth (which is about 50 cents cheaper)  or directly on the bus. Pro tip: for both the bus and train tickets, make sure you get them validated. For the bus they have little machines when you get on where you insert your ticket and then it stamps it and gives it back to you. For the train you insert your ticket at an entrance booth, or tap in and out with the same credit/debit card. If you do not get your tickets validated and they ask to see your ticket, you will get fined on the spot.

After the long day, we made it back to the port for the ferry, and then speedily walked back to the bus station so we did not miss the train (usually the last one runs around 10pm). I will say these day trips have some of my favorite parts of getting to study abroad since there are so many fun places to visit that are very accessible, especially if you do not plan on traveling outside of Italy. Anyways, I look forward to updating you guys with all of my adventures next week!

Ciao!

Ava Sillars

Data Science Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento

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My First Few Days in Hong Kong!

When I first landed, I could not stop grinning. The moment I stepped off the airplane and saw the mountains in the evening haze, my first thought was: I’m so glad I chose Hong Kong.

 I was worried before I left, of course. Will I make lots of friends? Will the classes be hard? Will I enjoy two entire months in another country? And, yeah, I still don’t necessarily know the answers to those questions, but I’d never felt as excited for something– even in the wake of those doubts– as I did when I first arrived.

The trip to the university was incredibly easy, all thanks to my HKUST buddy. He picked up me and another student from UMich who flew in with me, guiding us through the bus (double-decker, by the way) routes and taking us to eat at an authentic street restaurant. Unfortunately, I did fall prey to the tourist stereotype and took too many photos, awed by the city with its enormous buildings and bustling streets. So, enjoy!

The dorm is pretty standard with lots of storage space, a full length mirror, desk, and in room sink. Two of these rooms are connected to a very small hallway that contains a shower in one room, and a toilet in the other, all of which are behind a locked door. The best part, besides my lovely roommate, of the dorms would have to be the ocean view.   

The following day, I caught breakfast with my roommate, in one of HKUST’s many canteens. They have a variety of options, within the food they serve, ordered through a kiosk– which are helpful as most of the staff at HKUST only speak Cantonese.

We then joined up with some other students for a campus tour, sponsored by the university, along with an orientation lecture, and a welcome reception. The welcome reception was for students to mingle and get some snacks and drinks. In that hour alone, I met so many people from so many different countries and even states within the US, all so incredibly friendly. 

For students who needed bedding or other home supplies, HKUST provided a trip following the reception to IKEA. The mall the IKEA was in was 17 floors, and, yes, I went to every single one of them– of course after exploring to see the differences in HK IKEA versus US IKEA (besides the food options, there was none). Within the mall was– amazingly– an ice rink, an arcade, bumper cars, a large supermarket, and much more.

My favorite part so far has to be the tour HKUST took us on today. We went to Tai O, a fishing village, and took a boat trip where I saw a pink dolphin (it’s an endangered species so seeing one is very rare)!! Afterwards, we got to explore by ourselves in the town’s shopping market, where I got mango mochi (yum). Then, we were given a traditional Cantonese vegetarian lunch, and allowed to climb up the stairs to the Big Buddha and explore even more shops in Ngong Ping Village. It was raining, and I, unfortunately, got soaked, but the fog made for some incredible photos.

I do feel the need to gently warn you. The temperature and humidity both are very high, so it’s important to pack lighter fabric clothing. Although it’s cloudy, raining, or night, the heat is persistent, though the buildings sometimes do have AC. 

Regardless, within just a few days, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed both the views and the people I’ve got to meet. Though I mourn TikTok, the atmosphere of Hong Kong is just as addicting– I want to see more, I want to do more. 

So, I have to reiterate: I’m so glad I chose Hong Kong.

Dvita Kini

Aerospace Engineering

IPE Engineering at HKUST Summer

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Ava in Sorrento | Week 1: Settling in and a trip to Amalfi

Hello again!

This first week has been a flurry of new experiences, sights, and faces. Since I arrived a couple days later than everyone else, this week has felt like an absolute whirlwind. The day that I arrived, CIS hosted a pool party for all of us which thankfully for me included food since I was still severely jet lagged and hungry after the long flight. This was a great way to get to know people since everyone was still getting to know everyone else, and there was even karaoke! Everyone from UM ended up going up together to sing Mr. Brightside which made going up there feel less scary. Something worth mentioning, the bus ride there and back was very hilly and had many tight curves so if you are prone to motion sickness I would definitely make sure to either bring or buy something to help since you are likely to experience that traveling everywhere around the coast.

The pool party was held on a villa rooftop, and the view was incredible

Classes have also begun, and currently I only have physics since my other class will not start until the next session. However, my work experience has also begun and our first onsite visit will take place next week.

Getting to Know the City

The main piazza of Sorrento

One of the big learning curves I noticed during my first week living here is getting used to how to shop. There are several grocery stores around, but they are nothing like the grocery stores we have in the US. Unlike a typical Target or Walmart, there aren’t any “super stores” here. The grocery stores are much smaller, and generally have a much smaller selection of goods (except for the pasta and olive oils of course).

Pro tip: do not just go around grabbing fruits and veggies because there will be a worker who bags and weighs fresh produce for you and will put a price tag on it. This is especially important at smaller vendors because they have a “you touch it you buy it” mentality.

Smaller fruit vendor. They even have a do not touch sign!

I will say I am not much of a chef, but of the groceries I have bought, everything has been noticeably fresher and you can taste the difference given there is not a bunch of preservatives and extra ingredients. So far I have made myself pasta and recently took on making a caprese sandwich (thank you very much - that will most likely be the extent of my cooking) as well as things like cereal and yogurt with toast.

Since grocery stores again only carry food, another place I have frequented are the local pharmacies. They are located almost at every corner and are denoted by a green cross. Basically anything you could think of buying at a typical drugstore can be found at them (other than food) such as OTC medicines, hygiene products, skincare, etc. They also all have doctors there who you can speak to and they can advise you on what to get given your symptoms (yes it's scary- but also very doable since most of them speak a good amount of English). The only thing is if you need anything that would typically need a prescription in the US, it most likely requires a prescription here too. If that is the case, you can fairly easily make an in-person appointment online or there are several doctors who can write prescriptions through a completely electronic process.

Amalfi & Atrani

On Saturday, CIS provided a bus and boat for everyone to travel to the city of Amalfi which total took about 2 hours. It consists of a 45 minute bus ride to the docks and then another 45 minutes boat ride.

The boat ride view! Also apparently LeBron James was in Amalfi while we were there

I will say Amalfi was very beautiful and the sights were gorgeous, however, I think I, as well as most of the other students, prefer Sorrento. It was very busy and full with tourists, and there were not very many accessible food options other than more formal (and very expensive) sit-down restaurants. Despite the food options being limited, the gelato was not. There were several gelaterias around the piazza that served lemon gelato in a giant hollowed out lemon which was definitely worth the wait.

St. Andrews Cathedral and the tiktok famous lemon gelato

Other than that, it was fun to window shop around Amalfi, although most of the shops offered very similar things to what you can purchase in Sorrento. I will say the beaches looked very nice, but I did not personally spend any time there. Many of my friends said they enjoyed their time and that the water was great, but that the sand was just really hot. 

Admittedly, my favorite part of the day was walking around Atrani. You have to walk through a bunch of tunnels to get to the town, but it only took about a 15 minute walk, and the sights were gorgeous. There was also another beach which seemed to be much less crowded than the main beach on the Amalfi coast. It was much less crowded and touristy, and walking around the streets was much more enjoyable. I will say the downtown is much smaller than Amalfi, but there were still a couple of cute stores and restaurants right off the water. I would definitely make visiting here a priority when you travel to Amalfi, and if you want to spend the day at the beach, I would recommend coming here instead of going to the beach that is right next to all the docks when you first arrive.

All of Atrani was GORGEOUS–I could have stayed there the entire day

Next week will be my first trip to the Ieranto Bay for my work experience which I am immensely excited for, and I hope to do some more traveling over the weekend! Looking forward to updating you all next week!!!

Ava Sillars

Data Science Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento

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Ava In Sorrento | Week 0: Getting Ready and Future Goals

Ciao! My name is Ava Sillars, and I am a rising junior studying data science (engineering). While I am staying here in Sorrento, I will be taking Physics 240/241 which spans both of the 2 sessions Sant’Anna Institute offers over the summer, a practical work experience at the Ieranto Bay during session 1, and a special topics human rights course during session 2. I am beyond excited to experience everything this program has to offer, and I can not wait to document the process!

Whenever someone asks me why I chose to study abroad, I always say it is because of the person I hope to become by the time this program is over. I find it so interesting and insightful to learn how other people live their lives. Having lived in the US for essentially my entire life, I am excited to learn the different customs, traditions, societal norms, foods, etc. that I have never been exposed to before.

As for a mental to-do list I have for myself, I know I want to go to a concert while I am here. I am an avid concert goer, and I recently discovered Lorde will be performing in Milan while I am here which I am so unbelievably excited for. I hope to learn at least a little bit of Italian (besides ciao and grazie–which I must say I think I have perfected). I want to visit some of the major cities in Italy and some of the surrounding countries (and not go broke doing so). And of course, try as many restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, and gelaterias as I possibly can.

As for my pre-departure experience, it was quite a rollercoaster. I have far too many clothes so packing light was a struggle, however I used packing cubes for the first time in my life which were definitely a game changer. I also went shopping for things like substantial walking shoes and nicer wedges, a digital camera, and some business casual clothes for my work experience. Additionally, I ordered plug adaptors online, and went to a foreign exchange place to get some euros for any shops that will not accept cards.

My frenzied packing the night before I was supposed to leave

Once that was all said and done, after I packed the night before my flight and mentally prepared myself for this immense undertaking, the morning of however, my flight got cancelled. Not just once though, my flights got cancelled 3 times. I ended up arriving a couple days after everyone else which I was nervous about, but now that I am finally here, my prior worries have started to dissipate.

When I finally departed on my 4th flight attempt, 2 days later than intended

Given how long it feels like I have been in preparation for this trip (ever since sitting down to write my application 6 months ago), I am as ready as I ever will be for these upcoming 10 weeks here in Sorrento. Thank you for joining me on my journey, and I cannot wait to update again soon!

Ava Sillars

Data Science Engineering

Engineering in Sorrento

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RWTH Aachen Week 2: Köln trip & Düsseldorf Japantag!! 

1 - Köln trip 

Took RE trains with 1 umsteig (exchange) to Köln, and headed straight to the Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral). Its full name is “High Cathedral Church at Cologne” and it is the seat of the Archbishop of Cologne and of the administration of the Archdiocese of Cologne. For a short time during 1880 to 1884, it was the tallest building in the whole world, and currently its still the 4th tallest church in the world and the tallest building in Köln. Inside there are also three golden sarcophagus worshipped by millions of people every year, because it is possible that they contained the remains of the three Magi who gave gifts to Jesus, and it was also the place of worship for the Holy Roman Emperor. I’ve been to St Peter’s Basilica in Vatican city before, and honestly this cathedral’s beauty could rival the Vatican. Truly marvelous. The pictures are insufficient to show how much I was in awe.

After visiting the cathedral, I had lunch with some other UROP students at Gaffel am Dom Köln, which serves the famous Kölsch beer thats local to Köln. Later we had a boat tour of the city and saw many landmarks, and played cards on the ship. The weather was cold for past few days but today there is amazing sunshine and warm winds, making everything extremely enjoyable. 

2 - Japantag at Düsseldorf 

Actually Düsseldorf is home to one of the largest Japanese communities in Europe (the 3rd largest after London and Paris!). It all started back in the 1950s when Japanese companies were looking for a central hub to access the European market. Because of its strategic location in the Rhine-Ruhr industrial heartland where over 50% of West Germans (FRG) lived, Düsseldorf became the go-to spot for big companies like Mitsubishi to set up their European headquarters. 

3 - Immermannstraße, little Tokyo

Over the decades, this grew into a massive cultural infrastructure. The area around Immermannstraße, right by the Hauptbahnhof, transformed into "Little Tokyo" which is a vibrant district with bilingual street signs even for doctors and parking spaces. It’s also got authentic ramen bars, Japanese supermarkets, and manga shops. It’s honestly like stepping into a different continent for a few blocks. So to celebrate this deep friendship between Germany and Japan, the city hosts Japantag (Japan Day) every year. It officially started in 2002 (though it evolved from earlier "Japan Weeks" in the 80s) and has since exploded into a massive festival that attracts over 600,000 visitors!

4 - Activities at Japantag

Besides taking selfies with over two dozen cosplayers, I also tried playing sumo with a sumo wrestler who is also an influencer on instagram. Of course I also had a ton of japanese snacks like Doraemon’s favourite dorayaki. There is even a massive Gundam model and special menus at every restaurant for Japan day. The most interesting scene is to see Japanese tōri gates standing in front of German bronze statues, this juxtaposed view truly shows the bi-cultural harmony and coexistence. At the LEGO stores, there are even exclusive and limited cherry blossom models for Japantag, its found nowhere else in the world and specifically made for this year. I had to finish the day with a classic miso ramen with eggs. It is absolutely delicious. 

Next time I’ll share some of the work I do in my lab. 

Yuqi SUN

Department of Robotics, Robotics

Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Science

Engineering - IPE: Undergraduate Research Program at RWTH Aachen in Aachen, Germany