Lab Life Beyond the Classroom October 29, 2026
By A student (Biochemical Engineering, Northeastern University) - abroad from 07/07/2024 to 07/20/2024 with
Cerca Abroad: Drone Technology Internships in Greece
I gained valuable insights into drone technology, developed new skills and broadened my horizons.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The program offered an enriching educational experience, providing valuable insight into laboratory practices and a deeper understanding of the field. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The on-site team was approachable, well-organized and always available to provide guidance and assistance throughout the program. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The accommodation was very comfortable! |
| * Food: |
Greek cuisine was delicious. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt welcomed by the local community and enjoyed connecting with people, discovering Greek traditions. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
Healthcare was easily accessible, and the program provided clear guidance on available medical services. |
| * Safety: |
I felt safe throughout my stay in Thessaloniki. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Hi, my name is Brendan. I am from Boston, Massachusetts, USA. I completed both my Bachelor’s and Master’s in cell and tissue Bioengineering from Northeastern University. I chose to do an internship in order to gain more hands-on lab experience outside of my theoretical coursework and also the prospect of Cerca Abroad has been really exciting to me. I was able to perform DNA extraction and purification, as well as PCR, PCR sample prep and also get to see some sampling and sequencing. I am very happy with the communication, well organized, and also our accommodation has been very nice in the city. I enjoyed it very much, personally, it’s a fun town and Greece at large is very beautiful. |
Finances
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* 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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 80$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Shop at local supermarkets, take advantage of students discounts and use public transport. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| 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? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I felt well-prepared for the program, so there is very little I would have wanted to know beforehand. |
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 Outright UrbaniteA social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country. |
