My first week in Prague has been eventful, and one of the highlights was visiting Prague Castle with some friends I met during orientation week. After a guided walking tour around the city, we decided to continue exploring and made our way up to the castle. The views from the top were breathtaking and overlooked the red rooftops of the city. Walking through the historic courtyards, Gothic spires, and ancient stone paths gave me a deep appreciation for the city’s rich cultural heritage.
I have also walked around the city many times which has given me a better sense of the city. Prague is split up into different districts so I was able to visit other districts with my other flatmates. I went to Prague 4 and visited a rooftop outdoor cinema which played “Devils in Prada.” Afterwards, we walked around the district which was more of just hotels, malls, and businesses. There was this amazing kabab place called Top Donor Kabab which was cheap halal food. We even took the tram, metro, and bus multiple times to travel around the city which has given me enough confidence to be able to travel to work and back without getting lost.
Carvago is one of the Czech Republic’s most prominent tech companies, known for operating one of the largest big data platforms in the region, specifically in the auto industry. As a major player in automotive e-commerce, Carvago applies advanced technologies like machine learning, image recognition, and predictive modeling to drive decision making and improve user experience.
As a data science intern, I’m working on a mix of tasks like writing code in Python, analyzing data with SQL, and helping with AI projects. In college, I took classes on data science and worked on projects that allowed me to integrate the skills that I learnt in class; however, this is my first time using those skills in a real job. It’s cool to see how data science is used to solve real business problems, not just for grades.
To be good at data science, you need to know how to code, understand math and stats, and be good at solving problems. You also need to be curious and not afraid to ask questions. Based on what I’ve learned so far about Carvago and the Czech work environment, I expect the team to value independence, efficiency, and clear communication. I’m looking forward to being in a setting where learning comes from doing, where I’ll get to work on meaningful projects using real data. Even though I haven’t started working yet, everything I’ve seen in Prague so far makes me think the work environment will be fast-paced but structured, with a strong focus on results.
Traveling around the city and talking to locals has already taught me a lot about the culture here, and I think those cultural traits will show up in the workplace too. People in Prague are polite but very reserved compared to what I’m used to in the U.S. they don’t tend to explain things unless you directly ask, and they don’t over communicate. Because of that, I’ve realized that if I want feedback or guidance during my internship, I’ll need to be proactive, take initiative, and not hesitate to ask questions.
Another interesting cultural difference I’ve noticed is how openly people discuss topics like politics and religion in casual conversation. In the U.S., those topics are usually avoided in public settings, especially in professional environments. But here, people seem more comfortable sharing their views and engaging in debate. At first, it was surprising, but I’ve started to see it as a chance to grow more open-minded and aware of different worldviews. I think this kind of exposure will help me become a better communicator and collaborator.
Looking ahead, I believe this internship will help me grow in more ways than one. I’ll be learning how to use industry-standard tools like AWS, Snowflake, SQL, and Python in real-world applications. But just as importantly, I’ll be learning how to work in a team that operates in a different cultural context, where expectations and communication styles might be different from what I’m used to. These experiences will be valuable not just for my resume, but to be able to thrive in global teams.
Even though it’s only been one week, I’ve already learned a lot not just about the industry I’ll be working in, but about the city and culture of Prague itself. Every day brings a new experience or lesson, and I’m excited to keep building my skills and growing as a data scientist. Being in Prague and working at Carvago is a great opportunity, and I’m really looking forward to what the rest of the summer has to offer.