Zacharoula Drogkari arrived in Malaga on June 9, for a 2 week internship in the field of Fashion Design together with her schoolmates of the school IEK CHAIDARIU.
An unforgettable experience, so much so that after 5 months she has sent us this beautiful testimony from Greece, her homecountry.
Thank you very much, Zacharula and everybody else…enjoy the reading!
Looking back at my experience in Malaga, I only have positive things to remember. It was a 15 day stay, where my classmates and I completed an internship on our field of study. Settling into a new country as an intern became easier thanks to the help from people of Tribeka. It was a short trip, and we had to be focused on our internship, so they made the accommodation and travel arrangements in cooperation with my sending organization. They welcomed us on our arrival and showed us the beautiful city of Malaga, the sightseeing, the market, and anything that we could possibly need. Each intern received a briefing about the company that she was going to work for. Tribeka found an ideal company for each one of us, based on our skills and our prior professional experience.
They accompanied us in our first day as interns, to show us the transportation, and introduce us to our supervisors. We and our tutors had meetings with people from Tribeka several times during our stay, to make sure we adjusted to the new conditions. If any issues were to arise, or if we needed anything, they were there for us to help.
As an intern, I was constantly in touch with my supervisor, who helped me adjust to the new workplace and conditions. We overcame the language barrier, using online translators and sketching. I also had the chance to learn a few words in Spanish, making basic communication easier. My supervisor was willing to help me whenever I needed, and he kindly gave me the chance to use my imagination, and take initiative. I gained experience on team working, on time planning and organizing tasks and activities in a work environment, I could only dream of. I came into contact with different practices of what I have theoretically learnt in my home country, and gained new knowledge and skills.
The people I met were generous, polite, open hearted and part of a different culture, with a different lifestyle with which I became familiar. Being an intern away from home makes you more confident, more open minded, and evolves you as a professional and as a person.
I will not forget the endless walks in the center of Malaga, through the buildings of different times, and styles, through churches and a castle, through museums and art centers, that always ended up in the Malagueta beach.
Taking part in a program like Erasmus+ is a unique experience, where you have the chance to see new places, meet a different culture, make friendships, strengthen your professional skills, but most importantly it changes the way you see the world around you.
