Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

My First Time Interning Away From Home September 27, 2026

By (Medicine, New York Institute of Technology) - abroad from 06/02/2024 to 06/22/2024 with

Cerca Abroad: Medical in Greece

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I was getting direct exposure to so many orthopedic surgeries and realizing how different it feels to witness those procedures up close rather than study them in theory. Of course, it was 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.

My overall educational experience was very positive , structured and genuinely eye-opening, especially because the surgical exposure aligned so closely with your interests and made the learning feel real rather than theoretical.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The host country organization was organized,attentive and consistently proactive.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Housing was very comfortable and convenient

* Food:

Food was varied and flavorful!

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Social and cultural integration was active, friendly and engaging with daily interactions.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Health care was structured and reliable.

* Safety:

Safety was predictable, well-managed and consistently reassuring.

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

Hi, my name is Luke, I am from New York, USA. I currently attend New York Institute of Technology. I chose to intern abroad in Athens because I wanted to spend some time away from home, see what it’s like to intern abroad, and because I don’t have the roommate experience back at college. I assumed it would be nice to live with people who are around my age who have the same interests as me and also to get to travel, which I haven’t done much in my life. So, my overall experience throughout my internship was very positive. I got to spend two weeks in surgery, which was very cool. I got to see tons of orthopedic surgeries, which is where my interests lie, and I am currently finishing my rotations which has been very cool. I got to see tons of things. I saw the blood lab yesterday, I saw dialysis today. Athens is very cool. Tons of food I got to try. So much history to be learned. Many places I got to see, like the Acropolis. I’ve seen Santorini—that was a cool island. I got to see the Olympic Stadium, that was very cool. I still have yet to visit the Acropolis Museum, which I plan to visit tomorrow. My favorite food to try here was the gyros. It was very good. The souvlaki was also very good. The coordination with Cerca Abroad was also very well put together. Everyone was on top of everything. Whenever I have had any concerns, they addressed them; they were right on top of them and made sure to take care of them. Nothing bad to say about it.

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? Avoid tourist-priced restaurants and eat where locals eat. Buy water in multipacks, share essentials with roommates and walk whenever possible. Also, choose local SIM cards .

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?
  • Direct surgical exposure
  • Strong program coordiantion
  • Cultural immersion
* What could be improved?
  • N/A
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I knew quite a lot before coming into the program and everything unfolded very smoothly. I don't have any complaints at all.

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.