Week Eight - The Final Week – Goodbyes, Reflections, and Return Home

Monday, 18th May 2026

The eighth and final week of my internship started much calmer than the previous ones. On Monday, I went to work at MagicNet as usual. It wasn't very busy – there wasn't much going on at the shop, which gave me a chance to slow down a bit after all the busy weeks before.

I stopped by to get Emanuel his "Prostacia" (his bribe) in the form of a Snickers bar again. It had become a small running joke between us, and it was nice to continue that tradition.

During the day, someone from our Erasmus program from Poland visited us. He was really nice, and we talked a lot about how much a driver's license costs in Poland versus Germany and what you have to complete to get one. It was a really fascinating conversation that definitely brightened my day. We compared the processes, the costs, and the different requirements, and it was interesting to see how different the systems are between the two countries.

In the afternoon, I was at the pool, let my mind wander, and enjoyed the sun. It was a very relaxed way to spend the afternoon, lying by the water and soaking up the Mediterranean atmosphere. The weather was perfect, and it felt good to just unwind before the final week really began.

The day was a good mix of light work, interesting conversation, and relaxation – a perfect start to the final week.

Tuesday, 19th May 2026

On Tuesday, I returned to work and continued with the usual mix of repairs and diagnostics at MagicNet. The day passed relatively calmly. There were no big surprises at the shop, which actually felt nice after the more chaotic weeks. I was able to focus on the devices without any distractions.

We had a couple of systems that needed a bit more time, including a notebook with a flickering screen and a desktop PC that kept rebooting under load. The troubleshooting was a bit more involved, but it was also a good exercise in patience and systematic testing.

In the evening, the group was in good mood as we all became more aware that this was the final week. We spent some time in the garden, talked about the day, and reflected on how much we had experienced over the past two months. The atmosphere was calm and reflective, as if everyone was starting to process the fact that we were entering the final stretch.

Wednesday, 20th May 2026

Wednesday was mostly focused on organizational tasks and wrapping up the remaining repairs at MagicNet. We handled a few smaller devices – replacing RAM modules, cleaning fans, and checking spare parts. It was a calm day, but it felt good to be back at work and finish strong.

After work, we had a big cleaning session at the house to start preparing for our departure. Cleaning rooms, emptying the refrigerator, and packing suitcases took a surprising amount of time and energy, mainly because I kept getting sidetracked by memories. Every corner of the house is full of little stories from the past few weeks.

In the evening, I relaxed by playing Civilization with Marvin. It was a nice way to unwind and enjoy one of the last evenings together as a group. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and it felt good to wind down together after an active day.

Thursday, 21st May 2026

Thursday was about receiving the Europass documents and finishing more organizational things. Maria from MD Hellas helped me certify the technical skills I had acquired over the past two months, and it was incredibly rewarding to know that my work and experience would be officially recognized.

After work, we spent time together in the yard, jumped into the pool, and had another barbecue in the evening – one of our final relaxed nights together as a group. The atmosphere was very special, as if everyone was trying to make the most of these last moments. We talked about the past weeks, laughed, and started saying goodbye even though we still had a couple of days left.

The weather was excellent, and the barbecue felt like a proper ritual to wind down the week. It was nice to have this kind of closure with the group before the final days.

Friday, 22nd May 2026

Friday was our last official workday at MagicNet. We handled the remaining organizational tasks and finished cleaning and packing everything at the house. Prodromos and I went through the repair queue one last time, and I helped organize the spare parts and tools. It felt like a proper closure to the internship.

We spent the day reflecting on what we had learned and how much we had grown over the past two months. The shop felt familiar now, almost like a second home, and it was bittersweet to know that this was the last time I would be working there.

In the evening, everyone gathered together in the yard one last time. We had a few drinks, talked about the last weeks, and enjoyed the final evening together with great vibes. It was a lovely way to end things for a group that had really bonded in such a short time. We reflected on the past weeks, laughed about funny moments, and said our goodbyes. Laki was around as usual, but he seemed unusually quiet that evening, as if he sensed that something was changing.

Saturday, 23rd May 2026

On Saturday, it was finally time to return home to Berlin. We woke up early and flew back via Vienna. Luckily, the whole journey went smoothly without any problems or inconveniences.

As we took off, I looked out of the window one last time and tried to memorize the coastline. Two months in Crete, an internship that helped me grow both professionally and personally, a group of people I won't soon forget – and somewhere down there, a garden with a cheeky cat I'll miss.

The flight was comfortable, and I spent some time reflecting on the entire experience. I was looking forward to seeing my family and friends again, but a part of me would certainly miss the pace of life under the Cretan sun.

Sunday, 24th May 2026

Sunday was very relaxed. After being really exhausted on Saturday, I took a long time to rest and recover. It was good to just slow down and let the trip sink in.

The weather was good, and I was happy to have my girlfriend and my cats around me. We spent the day in the park to enjoy the sun and have some time together again. It felt nice to be back home and share moments with the people I care about.

Many stories from the Erasmus trip were shared, since my girlfriend's family was also there. We talked about what I had experienced, showed pictures, and laughed about the funny moments from Crete. It was a great way to connect and bring my family and friends closer to the experience.

Then there were a few souvenirs I had brought back, like olive oil and baklava. We tried some of the Greek food together, and it was a nice way to keep a piece of Crete with me even after returning home. The olive oil tasted amazing, and the baklava was sweet and delicious – just like I remembered it from the tavernas in Heraklion.

In the evening, I rested and let the day sink in. The Erasmus experience was amazing. I really loved the island, the people, the weather, the food, and our house. It was also great that some of my friends and family from Berlin came to visit me during the stay. I learned a lot both professionally and personally, met many great people, and created unforgettable memories.

Summary and self-reflection

Looking back at Week 8 and the entire internship, it felt like a complete and rewarding experience. The final week had a special atmosphere from the very beginning – you notice it in the little things, like leaving the house in the morning and pausing for a moment, knowing it's one of the last times. Crete has had a profound impact on me over the past two months, and the certainty that it's almost over resonated throughout the entire week.

At work, I continued to build confidence with hardware repairs and diagnostics. The small, practical tasks like cleaning fans, replacing RAM, and fixing overheating PCs helped me understand the day-to-day reality of a repair shop even better. Receiving the Europass documents and having my technical skills officially certified was a meaningful milestone that marked the formal end of the internship.

The technical competence I developed during this internship was significant. I began with hands-on hardware repair work and gained practical experience in troubleshooting, diagnostics, and systematic problem solving. Beyond the technical skills, my ability to adapt to a foreign work environment has improved immensely. Navigating professional expectations while managing personal responsibilities in a new culture has made me much more confident and independent.

Outside of work, the final week was defined by goodbyes and reflection. The conversation with the Polish Erasmus participant about driver's licenses, the last barbecue, the final evening in the yard, and the moment of departure were emotional but also celebratory. The group had become a strong support system, and simple moments – like playing Civilization, lying by the pool, or eating together in the garden – had a surprisingly big effect on my overall experience.

Saying goodbye to the group and to Laki, our garden companion, was a sobering moment. The bond we formed while navigating life in a foreign country is something I will value long after we return home. This experience taught us a great deal about resilience and community, especially as we supported one another through the challenges we faced earlier in the stay, including the accident and the quiet days that followed.

Coming back to Berlin, I was happy to be reunited with my girlfriend and my cats. Spending the day in the park together, sharing stories from the trip with my girlfriend's family, and trying the Greek souvenirs like olive oil and baklava were perfect ways to ease back into home life. It was a gentle transition from the pace of life in Crete to the familiarity of Berlin.

Two months in Crete, an internship that helped me grow both professionally and personally, a group of people I won't soon forget – it was an unforgettable time. I am returning home with a completed Europass, practical experience in hardware repair and diagnostics, and a wealth of new perspectives. I am grateful for the opportunity to have worked in such a vibrant environment at MagicNet and for the guidance of Prodromos and Maria. While I look forward to seeing my family and friends, a part of me will certainly miss the pace of life under the Cretan sun.

I would definitely recommend everyone who has the opportunity to take part in the Erasmus+ program to do it. It was the perfect balance of professional growth and personal discovery, and I'm leaving with a clearer and more balanced mindset, ready for the next phase of my apprenticeship and career.