The penultimate day of our mechatronics course began like all of the others, with a choice of fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, coffee, and more provided by the ever-impressive Mensa staff. Awakened by caffeine and a brain teaser, the teams got to work.
The penultimate day of our mechatronics course began like all of the others, with a choice of fresh pastries, breakfast sandwiches, yogurt, coffee, and more provided by the ever-impressive Mensa staff. Awakened by caffeine and a brain teaser, the teams got to work.
Our class got a nice mid-morning break to go explore the Winterthur farmers market. Spread along the main streets of the old part of town near the ZHAW campus, the farmers market consisted of endless vendors selling beautiful flowers and fresh produce.
Many of us bought strawberries from the farmers market and found that they were some of the best strawberries we had ever eaten.
As the day continued, the competition grew more and more fierce, and so did the heat. Located on the top floor of a building with no air conditioning, the teams fought through sweat, after-lunch sleepiness, inconsistent batteries, and near-delirium to make progress on their robots.
After a challenging but productive day of robotics, the whole class was eager to cool off and unwind. Part of the group, assured by locals that it was “completely normal behavior,” found a fountain in Old Town to swim in.
We go to bed tonight anticipating a busy morning tomorrow and an intense competition in the afternoon. For most of us, our time in Switzerland is quickly nearing its end, but we plan to enjoy every bit of it that we have left.
--
Ben W.
