Cerca Abroad

Cerca Abroad Reviews

Sean
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Drones, Tech, and Greek Beaches

Hi, my name is Sean, I am originally from California in the USA and currently I am a rising sophomore at CU Boulder in Colorado. I am eighteen years old and I am an intern here at the Atlantic University. I chose to intern in the field of drone automation because I am very interested in how precision hardware like drones or quadcopters intersects with a field like animation or AI. I chose Thessaloniki because I heard it has a vibrant student population, beautiful beaches and weather. During my time at the Hellenic University in my internship, I repaired a drone, which involves taking the drone apart and using precision hardware and soldering to repair this drone which has a broken motor. After that was done, we started testing with the sensors. The sensors I coded using Arduino on the bottom of this drone take readings through a DHT sensor, which senses humidity and temperature, and also a raindrop sensor, which detects leakage or, you know, raindrops. Now, this is important in the application of greenhouses or agriculture. The data is stored on the EEPROM terminal of the Arduino, which is an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory. It can be read back using a separate program on Arduino again. During my time in Thessaloniki, I visited many fun tourist spots like the beaches of Halkidhiki and Mount Olympus, and these are very fun places to visit. The food here is great. The coffee is tasty. The people are very helpful, hospitable and kind. The students are plentiful. The city is very walkable and there is a vibrant nightlife as well. I have learned a lot about technology, culture, and history and I would love to come back in the future if possible. Cerca Abroad has been super communicative and organized. I loved it. The guides are super nice and also communicative. I really enjoyed this whole program. I would totally recommend it for friends and family. Thank you, Cerca Abroad.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
What surprised me the most was how lively and welcoming Thessaloniki was. I was particularly impressed by the city's vibrant student life, its rich history and how easily I could explore everything on foot.
Pros
  • Hands-on technology, electronics and Arduino programming
  • Exploring Thessaloniki, the beautiful beaches of Halkidiki and Mount Olympus
  • Excellent organization and support from Cerca
What other participants should know
  • Thessaloniki is a very walkable city with a lively student atmosphere
  • Take advantage of your free time to visit nearby destinations like Halkidiki and Mount Olympus
  • Be prepared for warm weather , especially during the summer and don't hesitate to interact with locals.
Braylei
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Physiotherapy Meets Travel Fun

Hi, my name is Brylee, I am from Utah in the USA and I study at Utah Tech University and I found this program online. I chose to do it because I wanted some clinical experience with physiotherapy and also I wanted to travel. I really enjoyed my experience here and getting to work with the physiotherapists. They have been so nice and welcoming and I have loved working with the patients. Even though I don’t speak any Greek, I’ve learned a few terms and it’s been really fun to interact with people here. It’s also been very fun to travel. If you get the chance, I would really recommend sightseeing if you can after the internship, when going out and having some fun. The coordination with the program has been fantastic- great communication. You can always message them anytime and it’s really a great program. I would recommend it a lot.

What was your funniest moment?
Trying to communicate with patients in Greek using the few words I had learned. It was a fun experience that often made us laugh.
Pros
  • Valuable exposure to clinical phsiotherapy practices
  • Meaningful interactions with patients
  • Excellent program coordination and communication
What other participants should know
  • Warm and sunny weather, especially during summer
  • Some basic Greek ohrases can be useful
  • Comfortable shoes are recommended for exploring Athens
Greta
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

PA Goals and Island Adventures

Hi, my name is Greta and I am from Minnesota, USA. I am currently applying to a PA school position in the U.S. and I decided to come here so that I can get some experience shadowing doctors and other medical professionals to kind of engage with what interests me the most. I’ve had a really great experience not only at the hospital but in Athens too. I really loved Athens and being able to travel to the islands has been also great. Overall, in my experience I found Greece supportive not only by the program but by the medical professionals here. I have learned so much and definitely I have a better understanding of the cultural differences as well as of myself and what I want to do in the future.

What was your funniest moment?
One of my funniest moments was getting a little lost while exploring Athens with other students. We ended up discovering some lovely places and laughing about it afterwards.
Pros
  • Supportive medical professionals
  • Valuable clinic shadowing experience
  • Oportunities for cultural exploration
What other participants should know
  • N/A
Jeremy
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Dreaming and Learning in Athens

Hello, my name is Jeremy, I am from Wisconsin, America, I went to the University of Wisconsin- Parkside and it is my hope that one day- hopefully- I will become a physician. I chose this program because, one, I wanted to get experience in the healthcare field in a different or foreign country and, second of all, Greece has always been one of my dream destinations to visit. So, the answer is simple, I came to Greece. Athens has been wonderful so far, actually when I first came here I was very surprised as it was different from what I thought it would be, but it was absolutely wonderful. I also had some chances to visit some of the islands, which are absolutely gorgeous. I loved my time sightseeing here, having fun. I absolutely enjoyed all the surgeries and clinics I was able to follow and watch. It has been so insightful. I sometimes go home and write some summaries for myself about the day, my feelings and experience and I think that I genuinely learned a lot. When I first got here Cerca Abroad was so helpful and very informative and I was very welcomed. I appreciate everything that I have been going through. Like I said, I absolutely loved it.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising experience was observing real surgeries and seeing how doctors work in a hospital environment. It was fascinating and helped me understand what being a physician truly involves.
Pros
  • Opportunities to observe real surgeries
  • Valuable insights into medical practice
  • Friendly and supporting programme staff
What other participants should know
  • Nothing
Faidra
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Seeing Surgery Through a Future Doctor’s Eyes

Hello, I am Faidra, I am a medical student, I am in the first year of my studies. I study in Malta but I am half Greek- half Latin American. I decided to come to this program to see how hospitals here in Greece work, how surgeries are performed, because I am interested in plastic surgery. I also saw a lot of surgeries. Plastic surgeries like laparoscopic ones with robotic machines. I saw spine surgeries, reconstructive ones, a lot of things, and also clinical experience. We saw how doctors go and see patients, how they talk to them and how they make them feel here. I am very grateful to have been here; it was a very good experience. Athens is also beautiful. Coming here, home again, was a great idea. All the team behind the program are very good people and they can answer all your questions. Thank you.

What was your funniest moment?
Sharing laughs with the medical team and discovering the lively atmosphere of Athens.
Pros
  • Meeting the hospital staff
  • Exploring Athens
  • Enjoying Greek food
What other participants should know
  • No real complaints
Ashley
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Learning Dentistry Across Cultures

Hello there, my name is Ashley, I am from Ontario, Canada. I recently graduated from my Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology at McMaster University. I decided to join this program with Cerca for dental shadowing to get more familiarized with the procedures and what is done in the dental profession here in Athens. I recently got a broad knowledge in Canada for dental shadowing but I wanted to get more familiarized and get more hands-on here in Europe. So, what I’ve been doing here in the last couple of weeks is shadowing Dr Costas and watched a diverse run of procedures, from tooth extractions to crumpled crown treatments as well as dental fittings, to name a few. Overall, it’s been a really great experience. From the team here with Cerca Abroad as well as the Athens area this is a very good opportunity to gain experience both in the medical field as well as get outside and learn about the cultural history that Athens has to offer. So, everything went smoothly transitioning our travels from Canada to here and I would really recommend this program to anyone who wishes to gain experience in a medical setting.

What was your funniest moment?
One of my funniest moments was trying to understand some Greek expressions and getting completely lost in translation!
Pros
  • Observing dental procedures
  • Exploring Athens
  • Laughing with the team
What other participants should know
  • N/A
Allison
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Witnessing Medicine Up Close

Hello, my name is Allison. I am from Scottsdale, Arizona, I am twenty years old, and I am in my third year of undergraduate studies in California. I chose a medical internship because I am interested in pursuing a career in medicine in the future. I really wanted to get a taste of medicine and be involved in that environment. I was offered this opportunity through my school, and it seemed like a great way to go abroad and see a part of the world I had never seen before. Some of the most exciting things I’ve seen specifically in the hospital include patient interaction, which was super cool, as well as some incredible surgeries. My favorite experience was seeing an open-heart surgery, which was one of the craziest things I’ve ever witnessed. The doctors were amazing—they really explained everything. Coordination was smooth. I think, as much as it is well-coordinated, you also have to take initiative to see what you want to see. Athens is beautiful. The people are super nice and helpful if you need anything. The food was amazing—I had so much gyros! I also got to visit some of the islands and learn about the history of the region, which was very enriching.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing I saw was how smoothly everything operated behind the scenes, especially during complex medical procedures.
Pros
  • Smooth workflow and clear expectations
  • Friendly atmosphere that makes participation easy
  • Consistent support whenever you need it
What other participants should know
  • N/A
Harika
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

A First Step Toward Cardiology

Hi, my name is Harika and I am twenty years old and I go to the University of Middlesex in London. So, the reason I chose this internship is because I am looking to become a cardiologist and I just wanted to get some insight and some internal experience of how it would be like to get a taste of the future. The coordination with Intern Abroad/Cerca Abroad was ten out of ten. Everything has worked perfectly for me from my apartment, communication, and assistance, I couldn’t have had any other way.

What was your funniest moment?
My funniest moment was confidently joining a cardiology discussion, only to realize halfway through it was actually a dermatology workshop and everyone was too polite to stop me.
Pros
  • Strong clinical exposure that genuinely support future cardiology goals
  • Smooth, reliable coordination
  • A well-structured programthat makes learning feel natural and enjoyable.
What other participants should know
  • No real complaints
Chloe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Shadowing Surgeries for the First Time

Hi, my name is Chloe and I am from California. I go to San Diego State University. I chose this program because I eventually want to become a doctor or a surgeon. My experience with Cerca Abroad was very good. I got to experience lots of surgeries I had never seen before, which is something we can’t really see in America—so it was definitely a good experience. Athens was very fun. We also got to visit some of the islands. Overall, it was a great experience and I gained a lot of clinical experience as well.

What was your funniest moment?
Probably when I tried to look super professional during a surgery and my mask fogged up so much I couldn't see a thing .
Pros
  • Valuable clinical exposure to sugeries not typically accessible in the U.S
  • Strong program organization and supportive experience throughout
  • Rich cultural immersion while exploring Athens and nearby islands
What other participants should know
  • Nothing
Katie
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Hands-On Research Experience in Greece

Hi, my name is Katie. I am from Columbus, Ohio, USA and I will be a junior this year at Harvard. I chose to do this internship because I wanted to explore the research industry and I am a bioengineer, so I thought that this was the best opportunity to do that. Some interesting things that I saw during my internship were that I was able to work with PCR tests, DNA extraction, which was super cool. I am very happy with the internship’s coordination by Cerca, the team was very attentive to any needs. I enjoyed my stay in Greece, the people are very welcoming and I love the Mediterranean diet, so the food was also great.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
The most surprising thing was getting hands-on with real PCR and DNA extraction work.
Pros
  • Hands-on molecular biology with real PCR and DNA extraction
  • Attentive coordination and support from the Cerca team
  • Welcoming environment in Greece with great food and culture
What other participants should know
  • Nothing