Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

Drones, Tech, and Greek Beaches October 14, 2026

By (Engineering Mechanics, University of Colorado - Boulder) - abroad from 05/12/2024 to 05/25/2024 with

Cerca Abroad: Drone Technology Internships in Greece

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained technical skills and cultural experiences that made the program truly worthwhile.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Th internship offered a well-balanced learning experience, combining practical work with valuable technical skills in drone technology and programming.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The program was well organized and efficiently managed.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

The accommodation was comfortable and met my needs.

* Food:

The Greek food was delicious with plenty of great options

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I connected well with the locals and enjoyed their culture and hospitality.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no health issues during my stay.

* Safety:

Thessaloniki felt safe and I experienced no safety issues.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

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 Khalkidhiki 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.

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 100$
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Eat at locals restaurants and walk whenever possible to save money.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • International Students
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 10+

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • Hands-on experience with drone technology , electronics and Arduino programming
  • Exploring Thessaloniki, the beautiful beaches of Halkidiki and Mount Olympus
  • Excellent organization and support from Cerca
* What could be improved?
  • Nothing to say
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I wish I had known how much there was to explore in Thessaloniki and the surroundings areas.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Networker
An active student leader, it was important for you to network abroad as well. Once overseas, you sought out student clubs, volunteered with local organizations, or attended community events. You encouraged your friends join you, and often considered how you could reflect your international experiences in a resume.