Week Four - Between Repairs, Chaos and a Wake‑Up Call

Monday, 20th April 2026

Monday marked the official start of the fourth week of my internship in Heraklion. It also felt like the halfway point of my time in Crete, which made the week feel a bit more reflective from the very beginning.

I returned to MagicNet, the small repair shop where I’ve been working since the beginning of the internship. The shop was already starting to feel familiar, almost like a second workplace at home. Prodromos greeted me as usual and quickly filled me in about the day’s tasks. As usual, we started with a quick check of the repair queue and the list of devices waiting for diagnosis.

Work-wise, the day was mostly about routine hardware repairs and diagnostics. Customers brought in notebooks, a couple of desktop PCs, and a few printers. Marvin and I helped test devices, check for faulty RAM, clean dust from fans and heatsinks, and reinstall operating systems where needed. The practical, hands‑on work suits me well, and I can feel that I’m getting faster and more confident with every repair.

One of the most interesting cases was an old laptop that had been dropped. The case was slightly bent, and the screen flickered when the laptop was moved. After opening it up, we found that the internal ribbon cable to the display had been damaged. Fixing it took time and careful routing, but it was very satisfying once the screen worked flawlessly again.

In the evening, we went back to the house in Episkopi. The weather was calm, so we was sitting in the garden for a while and talked about the day. It felt good to have a normal, structured start to the week after the more chaotic days before.

Tuesday, 21st April 2026

Tuesday was another day focused on hardware repairs and small‑scale reorganization at MagicNet. The shop is still in the middle of tidying up, so we spent part of the morning moving spare parts to clearer locations and labeling shelves. Prodromos is very strict about structure, and I actually appreciate that because it makes it much easier to find the right components later.

In the afternoon, we had a MacBook Air that the user had accidentally spilled water on. The laptop still powered on, but the keyboard was unresponsive in some areas. We opened the case, carefully removed the logic board, and cleaned the affected areas with isopropyl alcohol. After letting it dry completely, we reassembled it and tested it again. The keyboard worked much better, although not perfectly. We explained to the customer that it would likely need a keyboard replacement later, but for now the laptop was usable again.

After work, we went to the beach near Heraklion. The sea was calm, and the weather was warm enough to enjoy the sun without feeling too hot. It was a nice contrast to the more technical and sometimes stressful work at the shop.

Wednesday, 22nd April 2026

Wednesday felt like a transitional day at MagicNet. We spent most of the time cleaning up older projects and finishing documentation for some of the repairs we had done earlier in the week. Prodromos values good documentation because it helps trace problems and failures later on, and I could see how useful it really is when similar issues appear again.

In the afternoon, we went to Heraklion’s city center. We walked around the Koules Fortress at the harbor and admired the view of the sea and the old Venetian walls. The atmosphere was relaxed, and a few of us took photos. It felt like a small cultural break from the usual routine of soldering iron smoke and PC cases.

Later, we had dinner at a small restaurant nearby. The food was simple but tasty, and the prices were still very reasonable compared to Germany. It’s interesting how everyday life here can feel relaxed and affordable at the same time.

Thursday, 23rd April 2026

Thursday at MagicNet was a bit more demanding. We had a gaming PC that had been shipped in because it suddenly stopped turning on. The customer was very worried about losing his data and games. After checking the power supply and the motherboard, we identified a faulty power connector on the board. The system could be powered externally, which allowed us to retrieve the data and back it up to an external drive.

Seeing how stressed the customer was made me realize how important data recovery really is. It’s not just about fixing hardware; it’s also about calming people down and explaining the situation clearly. Prodromos handled the conversation very well, and I learned a lot just by observing how he spoke to the customer.

In the evening, we stayed at the house. Laki, the cat that has unofficially moved into our garden, was there again. We spent some time relaxing outside, watching the sunset behind the mountains. It was a very peaceful evening after the more intense day at work.

Friday, 24th April 2026

Friday was physically tiring but productive. At MagicNet, we had to move several heavy boxes of spare parts from one corner of the shop to the back room. These included old power supplies, cables, and outdated components that had been lying around for a long time. The task was simple in theory, but because of the sheer volume and weight, it took most of the morning.

In the afternoon, we cleaned and organized the warehouse area behind the shop. When everything is sorted and labeled, it’s much easier to find what you need quickly and avoid wasting time. It’s not the most glamorous work, but it makes a real difference for everyday operations.

Working at MagicNet has taught me that “IT work” is not just about sitting in front of a laptop with code. It can also be very physical, very hands-on, and very practical. At the same time, it involves a lot of problem‑solving and improvisation, especially when dealing with older or poorly documented hardware.

After work, we went out to a local restaurant again. It had become a small routine for us to eat together after a long day, which helped keep the group dynamic positive and relaxed.

Saturday, 25th April 2026

Saturday turned out to be the most intense and difficult day of the week, even though I hadn’t been there when it happened. At the time of the accident, I had just walked out of the house to take some rubbish bins to the collection point. That’s when I suddenly noticed that everyone was gathered outside, clearly shaken. Standing in front of our house was one of the rental cars, badly damaged and clearly “crashed”.

I had completely missed the accident itself and only realized later that our group had been involved in a car accident with one of the rental vehicles. It was a major shock for everyone involved, even for me when I heard the details. According to what they told me, the situation happened quickly and unexpectedly. Within a few seconds, a normal drive had turned into a stressful and confusing scene.

Fortunately, no one was seriously injured, which was by far the most important thing. I was very relieved when I heard that everyone was physically okay, even if the emotional impact was clearly still there. It was a strong reminder of how quickly things can change and how important it is to stay aware and cautious, especially when driving in an unfamiliar environment.

Later that day, Moritz, Sarah and I drove with Torben and Victor to the hospital to make sure everything was really fine. We decided to go to a public hospital because we weren’t sure whether our insurance would cover private clinics. Mrs. Freany from OSZ IMT helped us a lot and was even available on Saturday to support us. She responded quickly to our calls and messages, which I found really impressive and very reassuring. I want to thank her especially for taking the time and effort to help us in such a stressful situation.

She recommended that we call the emergency hotline of our insurance, but that turned out to be quite useless. The people on the phone couldn’t clearly tell us whether the costs would be covered, which made the decision even more complicated. Because of that uncertainty, we stuck with the public hospital.

Getting there was a bit difficult. The reception staff at the hospital didn’t speak English, and only a few people were around. Luckily, there was a woman who spoke both English and Greek and helped us translate so we could get our waiting numbers at the emergency department. The waiting area was quite empty, but we still had to stare at the screens for a long time until our numbers were finally called.

After the long wait, things suddenly moved surprisingly fast. Torben had blood taken and was given a saline drip so that his body could recover. Both he and Victor were then sent for a CT scan, and thankfully the doctors confirmed that everything was fine. The diagnosis was reassuring, but the whole process had taken a lot of time and energy.

Overall, we were at the hospital until around 11 p.m., which meant the visit lasted about five hours. The evening felt never‑ending, and by the time we got back to the house, I was completely exhausted. However, this exhaustion also helped me sleep better than I had in a while. For the first time in a long time, I had a really restful night and finally managed to “switch off” my thoughts a bit.

On a smaller, more personal note, the nights with Torben were slowly getting better, too. Earlier in the week, I had struggled to sleep because of his loud snoring and coughing. But from Saturday onward, it became noticeably quieter. He no longer rattled and coughed as much, and I was able to fall asleep again after a short while. This helped me calm down and not feel so stressed anymore, which was a small but important improvement.

Sunday, 26th April 2026

Sunday was mainly about recovery and logistics. After the accident, we had to contact the rental car company, explain what had happened, and organize the necessary paperwork. Communication in Greek and English was challenging at times, but we managed to get everything sorted with the help of the others.

The experience brought our group closer together. Everyone supported each other, helped with translations, and made sure nobody had to deal with the situation alone. It was emotionally exhausting, but it also showed how strong our team is when things get tough.

On a more everyday level, there were also small improvements in the house. The cleaning situation had been a bit chaotic in the first weeks, but we slowly started seeing progress. It still wasn’t perfect, but at least the others began contributing more often. There were days when the house actually stayed clean for a full day, which felt like a small victory. These little changes helped me feel more comfortable and relaxed, especially after the stressful events of the weekend.

Looking back at the week as a whole, it was a clear mix of hard work at MagicNet and unexpected real‑life challenges. On the technical side, I improved my skills in hardware diagnostics, data recovery, and customer communication. On a personal level, the accident was a sobering reminder of how important safety, responsibility, and mental resilience are when living and working abroad. At the same time, the improving nights with Torben and the gradual progress in household routines gave me a feeling of stability and calm.

Despite everything, I am still looking forward to the second half of my internship in Crete. The experience has already taught me a lot, both as an IT professional and as a person.

Summary and self‑reflection

Looking back at Week 4 as a whole, it was a mix of practical progress at MagicNet, small everyday improvements in the house, and a strong emotional challenge after the car accident. On the technical side, I improved my skills in hardware diagnostics, data recovery, and customer communication at the shop. Working with real customer devices taught me a lot about responsibility and how to handle pressure without panicking.

On a personal level, the accident was a sobering reminder of how quickly things can change and how important safety and clear communication are - especially in a foreign country. At the same time, the support from Mrs. Freany, the help from the group, and the small progress in our daily routines gave me a feeling of stability and trust. It also helped me sleep better and finally “switch off” after a stressful period.

Overall, this week felt like a turning point: not only because it was the halfway mark of the internship, but also because it pushed me to reflect more on my own limits, my reactions under stress, and how important a good support network really is - both in work and in everyday life.