Erasmus + Success Stories

Erasmus+ Period: 25.09.2021 – 28.02.2022

“Being able to participate in the Erasmus+ program was an opportunity for me that I would never forget”

Being able to participate in this program was an opportunity for me that I would never forget and for which I will always be grateful that I had the opportunity to experience it.

At first I was quite scared, I was hesitant to leave at all, I wondered if I would be able to cope, if I would make friends, if I would be able to fit in as a whole. The very idea of ​​stepping out of your comfort zone and changing the situation so abruptly in no time is quite frightening and responsible.

My stay was for 5 months - the whole first semester of my 5th year of studying at the Faculty of Dentistry. As soon as I arrived at the airport I was met by a man sent by the Erasmus office in Turkey, who accommodated me and helped me with everything else. I met my Erasmus coordinator there - Melody, the woman without whom I would not have been able to cope and I am grateful from the bottom of my heart for everything he did for me. She helped me with all the documentation, to introduce me personally to my teachers there, with every problem that arose, be it university or personal, she was always ready to help.

For the university itself, I would say that their base and system of education is at a much higher level than ours in Bulgaria. They study for 5 years, and their 4th and 5th years are conducted as an internship. Students work in a clinic where patients come alone, register, are examined and distributed according to the departments they need. Students take turns 1- 2 months per department; eg 1 month Orthodontics, 2 months Oral surgery, etc., they work constantly with patients and gain a lot of experience. They don't have a break, they work, even in the summer they only have a week off between the two semesters. The only downside was that people don't speak English very well.

For the country itself and the place I was in - the people were very polite, always helpful, smiling and polite. The food was quite tasty and everything was much cheaper compared to Bulgaria.

I had the opportunity to travel to Cappadocia, Alanya, Adana, Istanbul, Urfa, Diyarbakir, Samandag and Iskenderun, whatever I say about these places will be a little - so many historical, beautiful and full of life and beauty places I had never seen before.

Finally, I would like to thank the whole Erasmus program team here and in Turkey, and the Erasmus program in general, for having it and for giving me the opportunity to experience this adventure, to meet so many people, to make new friends and contacts, to rediscover new talents in myself, to see how my colleagues live and study in another country and to immerse myself in another culture and civilization.

It was a once-in-a-lifetime experience and every student who has this opportunity should take advantage!

It was an honor for me, thank you!