Erasmus + Success Stories

“DURING MY INTERNSHIP AT THE DENTAL LAB, I FEEL GREAT! THE PEOPLE ARE VERY FRIENDLY AND HELPFUL !”

Erasmus+ Period: 05/07/2019 – 06/09/2019

Spain is famous around the world for Flamenco music and dance, bullfights, fantastic beaches, and lots of sunshine. But what people sometimes forget is that Spain has been one of the cultural centers of Europe for thousands of years. Passionate, sophisticated and devoted to living the good life, Spain is both a stereotype come to life and a country more diverse than you ever imagined.

And some interesting facts about Spain:

• Fiestas and Traditions. Best known among Spain’s folklore traditions are certainly Flamenco and bullfights. You will find bullfights indeed throughout the country, the most popular event perhaps being the “Running of Bulls” during the Sanfermines in Pamplona. But bullfights are part and parcel of any Fiesta;

• Paella. Originating in Valencia, paella is a rice dish prepared with seafood. Of all the foods in Spain, this is the most popular. In this dish, savory yellow rice is combined with tomatoes, onions, peas, shellfish, squid, clams;

• The national animal of the Spain is Bull;

• Having Pomegranate as an official flower, the national flower of Spain is the Red carnation, which is not only beautiful and long lasting flower, but also sends send a message i.e. when you receive a Red Carnation Bouquet, it means, my heart aches for you and when you receive White Carnations, the sender is saying I am still available;

• Plus, ultra (English: Further beyond) is a Latin phrase and the national motto of Spain. It is taken from the personal motto of Charles V (24 February 1500 – 21 September 1558), Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain (as CharlesI), and is a reversal of the original phrase Non terrae plus ultra (“No land further beyond”).

I would also like to do something like a short description (guide) of Madrid, which I hope is useful for those who want to visit this wonderful city. Madrid is a city that’s predominantly sunny. The weather is rather dry so it can get quite fresh in the winter and extremely hot in the summer. You will eat the best „tapas“of your life. Spain is all about food, and where else than the capital will you find some of the best „tapas“?! A tapa (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈtapa]) is an appetizer or snack in Spanish cuisine and translates to small portion of any kind of Spanish cuisine. Tapa may be cold (such as mixed olives and cheese) or hot (such as chopitos, which are battered, fried baby squid). Madrid is very fashionable and trendy, so you will find it hard to resist going shopping as there are so many options for everyone’s taste. Plaza Mayor: in the historic heart of the city, a huge square with a uniquely Spanish style of architecture. An interesting fact: the square has been the setting for bullfights and for coronations.

Puerta del Sol: the square that most symbolizes life in Madrid. It marks kilometre zero, the point all Spain’s road distances are measured from, as it was once the starting point for all roads to the provinces. There ‘s also the statue of the Bear and the Strawberry Tree - This statue is the symbol of the capital of Spain. Originally Madrid was called Ursa, a Latin bear translation, and the reason for this was that in the past the area was inhabited by many bears that inhabited nearby forests. In the forest at that time there were many madrone trees bearing fruit resembling strawberries, therefore, gathering information it can be concluded that the name of the tree used as a symbol of Madrid actually derives from the Madron tree.

Royal Palace: see how the Kings and Queens of Spain lived until quite recently. This may be the royal palace with the largest and best preserved collection in Europe, with its original furniture, decoration and other treasures in over 3,000 rooms. In my opinion, the Royal Palace of Madrid is the most impressive monument of the capital. It’s so majestic from the outside and the inside is even more beautiful with its stunning frescoes and luxurious decor. You can also walk around the lovely Sabatini Gardens which used to be where the royal stables were.

El Retiro Park: one of the largest and nicest city parks in Europe. A place to relax and enjoy the beauty. At the weekends it’s a great place to go with kids and enjoy musicians, mimes, puppet theater, or boating on its central lake. Retiro Park is the main park of the city where everyone goes for a picnic on the hot summer days. It’s a lovely park to walk around in. And it is also home to the beautiful Palacio de Cristal, which is open for exhibitions. The Puerta de Alcalá entrance is one of the prettiest ones.

Three unmissable art galleries: even if you’re not an art fan, the Prado is one of the most important museums in the world and well worth a visit. If you prefer modern and contemporary art, you should visit the Reina Sofía. And of course, the one of the world’s most famous private collections.

In general, I find that things are a lot cheaper in Madrid than other European cities. Travel, accommodation, restaurants and bars are all more affordable than let’s say Paris or London. If you’re looking for an affordable, budget destination then Madrid is perfect!

I loved the time I spent is this wonderful and lovely city, and I tend to go back regularly to visit my friends and to enjoy the places I used to go to. It always brings back lovely memories of the good time! The Spaniards are friendly, kind and active, ¡really active! Especially if compared to the majority of Europeans. They like to live with friends to drink, enjoy the good weather, good food and parties. The Spaniards likes to go out to dancing, but not all dance flamenco. Spaniards likes the traditional Spanish food, but they don´t eat paella every day. They are cheerful, hospitable and very funny. And of course, my most important impression and the reason I’m here is the dental laboratory.

During my internship at the dental lab, I feel great. The people are very friendly and helpful.

They have accepted me very well and help me learn many new things.

The laboratory is very large with many modern and new devices and machines, so I can see the construction of various prosthetic structures.

Certainly, these two months of practice are extremely rewarding, time spent in the work environment and a good opportunity to expand skills.

Gaining experience that would be beneficial for each participant in the Erasmus+ Programme. And ... yes, that’s right - Erasmus+ experience is one of those adventures, which can’t be for-gotten! Highly recommend to anyone !

Korfu Dental is a laboratory established at the beginning of the year 1995, and these almost 20 years of professional experience in Spain, Madrid. The laboratory provides services to leading professionals nationally and internationally. Their facilities are equipped with the latest CAD-CAM technology devices: DENTSPLY DEGUSA CERCON, STRAUMANN, Itero, PHIBO, 3SHAPE, DENTAL WINGS, EXOCAD, SUM 3D, ARCHIMEDES.