Shadowing Surgeries for the First Time October 02, 2026
By A student (Medicine, San Diego State University) - abroad from 06/02/2024 to 07/27/2024 with
Cerca Abroad: Medical in Greece
I gain clinical exposure to surgeries not typically accessible in the U.S It was definitely worthwhile!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
Overall, my educational experience was incredibly enriching, giving me rare surgical exposure and genuine clinical growth. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The host country team was always present when needed , making everything feel easy and stress-free without ever being intrusive. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The housing felt welcoming and easy to settle into, giving me a comfortable base to recharge after long clinical days. |
| * Food: |
The food was a highlight! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I felt genuinely included. Locals were welcoming and it was easy to blend into the rhythm of everyday life. |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
The health care experience was eye-opening |
| * Safety: |
I always felt secure because the neighborhoods were calm, well-lit and easy to navigate. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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. |
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 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 100$ |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Choose local cafes and bakeries, buy data plans locally and track your spending weekly. |
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 don't have anything more to add. I am completely satisfied with the entire experience. |
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 Nearly Native or Trail BlazerCraving the most authentic experience possible, perhaps you lived with a host family or really got in good with the locals. You may have felt confined by your program requirements and group excursions. Instead, you'd have preferred to plan your own trips, even skipping class to conduct your own 'field work.' |
