A Red Sky Over Crete - My First Week Abroad
We landed in Heraklion on Sunday, 29 March and picked up our rental cars. After that, we arrived at our villa in Episkopi, which is about 20 minutes away from the capital. We looked around our accommodation and got settled in. Later that day, we all went out for dinner together in the village.
Monday, 30 March 2026 - First Impressions
On Monday, we met with the organisation MD Holidays. After that, each of us was taken to our company so we could see where we would be working and get a first impression.
Later we went to the beach and then our group went shopping to buy groceries and other things we needed for the week. After that, we went back home. In the evening, we cooked together and had dinner as a group.
Tuesday, 31 March 2026 - My First Day at Work
Tuesday was our first day of work. At MD Hellas, I am working on a Student Management System. This system will help the company organise information about interns and accommodation more easily. I like this project because I can work on something new and useful and learn more about programming at the same time.After work, we drove to the city centre, looked at the sea, and got something to eat. Later that evening, the whole group went bowling to relax and have some fun together.
Wednesday, 1 April 2026 - The Sandstorm
On Wednesday, the weather changed a lot after work. We had already seen a big dust cloud earlier that day, but we did not think much of it at first. We had no idea what was going to happen later. In the afternoon, a huge sandstorm came towards us, and the whole sky turned red because of the sand in the air. It was a very exciting and unusual experience.
Thursday, 2 April 2026 - Meeting New People
On Thursday, we did not do much because of the weather. After the sandstorm on Wednesday, everything still felt a bit unusual, and the weather was not great for going out or doing anything special.
So we mostly stayed at the accommodation, relaxed, and spent some time together. Even though it was a quiet day, it was nice to slow down a bit after the busy and eventful days before
Friday, 3 April 2026 - A Fun Night Out
On Friday evening, we went to a tavern in Gazi and had dinner together. After that, we went to a local club.
There, we met other students from different parts of Germany, and also some locals. It was especially funny because we also met a lot more people from our vocational school in Berlin than we expected. It was really to talk to new people and hear about their experiences so far.
Saturday, 4 April 2026 - A Relaxing Day
Saturday was a quiet and relaxed day. I used the day to do some laundry and clean up a bit in the accommodation. In the evening, we all sat together, had a few drinks, and watched football and basketball. It was a very nice and relaxing evening.
Sunday, 5 April 2026 - Exploring Heraklion
On Sunday, we drove back to the city centre to look around a bit more. The view from Koules Fortress was really beautiful and interesting. After that, we all went to a bar and spent the rest of the evening there having a lot of fun together
Looking Back on My First Week
Overall, my first week in Crete was full of new experiences, first impressions, and many interesting moments. Starting work, getting to know the island a little better, and spending time with the group made the week both exciting and enjoyable.
One of my personal highlights so far is that there are cats everywhere in the city. You can see them walking around, relaxing in the sun, or sitting near cafés and streets. I think that is really cute and it makes the city feel even more special.
I am excited to see what the next few weeks will bring.
