Procured a Praktikum!

I will be starting April 1 at BMW's Research and Innovation Center. I am very excited about the work to be done and look forward to learning as much as I can during my short time there. I am currently looking for a place to live then I'll move down at the end of the month. If anyone ever wants to visit München, let me know.

Lions Racing:
A lot of stuff has been happening this week. We had to recover clay from the beautifully scultped front end to finish the rear. We are now using body filler and sanding it to create the last layer before the fiberglass negative is created. Then that will act as a mold for the Carbon Fiber.

While I am quite happy about my upcoming internship, a part of me is saddened because I will no longer be able to actively participate in helping build the car. I may be able to help out with the Business Plan that they have to prepare and present.... but I am going to try my best to make it to Hockenheim to act as support crew when they compete Mid-August (If i can get the time approved). I would love to see the team to the end as this is a rare opportunity for me; and they are all great people.

Me sanding:

Full Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22512029@N06/sets/72157625266426453/

Post München follow-up

We went to Neuschwanstein again, and climbed a snowy summer-trail and got some fantastic views. There were also some really neat shots within München itself that we stumbled upon. I seriously think that München is by far my favorite german city; but i have a couple more i need to visit first before making a declaration.

Interview:
The interview went well. The interviewers were absolutely awesome. The work described is very relevant to my interests and one of the interviewers even comes from a motorsports background. It was a pleasure talking to them both.

Dachau

It was such a beautiful day, but this didnt matter once you walked through the gas chambers; saw the crematorium; and stood at the wall where countless people were murdered. It is a very surreal experience. Only the trees standing bore witness to one of the darkest moments in German history. 

Konzentrationslager - Dachau 

(Gas chamber)

(imagine up to 10 people crammed in EACH bed)

Lions
Clay, more of it. Body filler imminent. Encountered a couple problems and need to do a slight redesign. Also picking through a checklist of rules and regulations for the Formula Student Tech inspection. 

Praktikum:
Train booked to München for monday, interview on tuesday 22.02.2011

will return 24.02.2011

Lions Racing - Clay

Trying to finish up the clay for the negative body mold. Next week will be using body filler and sanding, then working with carbon fiber

Bremen take 2

Some more pictures from Bremen (taken after the flight back from Stockholm)

Karting!

Lions Racing:
Just went karting today, it was a lot of fun...except i didnt know the blue flag meant the person behind should pass, i kept getting stuck behind someone and thought to back off as they were slowing in front of me constantly.

meh whatevs.


It was definitely fun and i hope to kart more often before i leave braunschweig.


Praktikum:
The position I applied for I did not get. Bummer, I have one more interview Feb 22 in Munich at BMW. I'm quite nervous but it would be an opportunity of a life time. I am preparing some other applications in case this falls through, maybe at Continental or VW. Kolbenschmidt Pierburg is also a very interesting company who deals with motor parts, pumps, and turbo manufacturing.

Stockholm

Sweden:

Ice Bar

The City of Stockholm

Stockholm was really cool. I definitely want to visit again once it warms up a bit. The people are so friendly there and love to talk. I was sitting next to a Swedish girl on the flight over, she is studying law and was extremely excited to give off recommendations of bars/clubs/sights of the city. Then when walking by the parliament, just had a security guard talking with us for an hour, about where else we should visit, food, cars, and other. Sun rose at 8:30 and set at 3pm which was interesting. It was very cold. I met up with a friend after 9 years in Sweden. We went out to a club and caught up. So many stories. Makes me miss a bunch of people.