Week six: Getting Back into the Swing of Things

Monday, 4th May 2026

The sixth week of my internship felt like the real start of the “second half” of my time in Crete. The accident and the quiet days around it were behind me, and it was time to get back into a more normal rhythm. On Monday, I returned to work and slowly eased back into the daily routine at MagicNet.

The shop didn’t feel completely different, but it somehow seemed a bit more familiar. Prodromos greeted me as usual, and we started the day by checking the repair queue and going through the list of devices waiting for diagnosis. It was good to have a clear structure again, instead of just reacting to unexpected events.

We spent most of the morning dealing with routine repairs: testing notebooks, diagnosing faulty RAM, and reinstalling operating systems where needed. There was also a desktop PC that wouldn’t boot properly, which turned out to be a failing power supply. After replacing it, the system came back to life, and the customer was very relieved. It was a small success, but satisfying because the fix was clear and straightforward.

In the afternoon, we opened an old laptop whose fan had been extremely loud for weeks. After cleaning the heatsink, replacing the fan, and reapplying thermal paste, the machine was much quieter and cooler. It’s always impressive how much difference a simple cleaning can make.

Back at the house, the evening was relatively quiet. We spent some time in the garden, talked about the day, and slowly adjusted to the idea of a “normal” work week again. The atmosphere felt calmer than during the first weeks, as if everyone had started to settle into the routine of life in Crete.

Tuesday, 5th May 2026

On Tuesday, I returned to work and continued the usual mix of repairs and diagnostics. 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.

The day itself 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 constantly thinking about the accident or the insurance issues. It helped me feel a bit more “back to normal”.

In the evening, I spent a lot of time playing Diablo IV. I had been looking forward to the new season for a while, and in the last week I had finally managed to get my first character up to max level. That night, I fully dove into the end‑game grind, trying out different builds, running bounties, and exploring the new systems. It was a very relaxing way to unwind after a relatively uneventful day, and it felt good to finally get deep into the game instead of only playing in short bursts.

Wednesday, 6th May 2026

Wednesday felt like a light, but still productive day at work. We didn’t have any big emergencies at MagicNet, so the focus was on smaller tasks: replacing RAM modules, swapping out failing SSDs, and cleaning devices that had been sitting in the shop for a while. It was repetitive in parts, but that also helped me get faster and more confident.

One of the more interesting cases was a printer that kept producing blurry prints. After checking the toner, paper, and connections, we found that the corona wire was dirty and needed cleaning. It’s a small detail, but it makes a big difference in the final result. It was nice to see how even older hardware can be brought back to a good state with a bit of patience.

In the evening, the group gathered to watch the Champions League semi‑final. It was a very close game, and the tension in the room matched the one on the pitch. I had made some bacon for myself beforehand because I was quite hungry, and that was exactly when Laki decided to try and steal a piece from my plate. He managed to get quite close, and for a moment it looked like he might actually succeed. In the end, I kept most of my food, but it was still a funny reminder that our cat clearly has a weakness for hot, greasy snacks.

Thursday, 7th May 2026

Thursday at work was a bit more relaxed overall. We spent some time recalibrating tools, checking spare parts, and organizing cables. It’s not the kind of work that sounds exciting on paper, but it makes the shop feel more professional and easier to work in every day.

After returning to the house, we all came together to cook a large batch of Bolognese. We spent the evening eating in the garden, which has become one of our favorite ways to wind down and talk about our experiences. The weather was calm, the food was good, and the atmosphere was very relaxed. It felt like a small ritual that helped strengthen the group.

Friday, 8th May 2026

Friday brought a bit more action, but not in the shop. After work, we went to a paintball event organized by MD Hellas, our placement agency. They had arranged a whole session for several groups, and we all drove there together. The place was packed with German students and apprentices, and it was really fun to see how many people from our program were in the same situation.

The game itself was intense and very enjoyable. Running between the obstacles, getting shot at, and trying to outsmart the other team turned out to be a great way to release some stress and have a bit of friendly competition. The atmosphere was very relaxed, and it was nice to meet people from other companies and agencies, even if we were just shouting at each other across the field.

The only negative moment was that the Spanish team played very unfairly. As soon as someone was eliminated, they didn’t just leave the field but stood at the side and shouted in Spanish where our remaining players were hiding. It felt like cheating, and I found it quite unpleasant. It ruined a bit of the fun, but at least it made for a funny story afterwards.

After the paintball session, a few of the Germans had to head back to their accommodation, but their bus was no longer running. Since our car was already heading in roughly the same direction (we were planning to go out to eat nearby), we offered them a ride and brought them back to their place. It felt good to help out and kept the group‑dynamic positive.

Later, we went to a taverna for dinner. It had become a kind of tradition by now. Ali and I ordered a chicken pizza together, and I shared a garlic bread with Victor. Both tasted really good, and the atmosphere was relaxed and fun.

The only downside was that Ali’s and my pizza took almost an hour to arrive. We waited while everyone else was already finishing their meals, which put me under a bit of pressure. I’m already a slower eater, and suddenly everyone was basically waiting for me. When the pizza finally came, there wasn’t much time left to enjoy it calmly.

Afterwards, I tried to get part of my money back because of the bad service, but the staff didn’t respond very sympathetically. In the end, I decided to let it go rather than arguing about it, even though it annoyed me. It was an unpleasant moment, but overall it didn’t overshadow the rest of the evening.

Saturday, 9th May 2026

On Saturday, the weather finally cleared up properly. We drove into the center of Heraklion for some ice cream and then spent the rest of the day by the pool at our house. It was a very calm and enjoyable day, with no big plans other than relaxing and enjoying the sun.

The group dynamic felt more stable now compared to the first weeks. After the accident and the quiet phase that followed, we had slowly returned to a more normal rhythm, but with a bit more awareness and care for each other.

Sunday, 10th May 2026

Sunday followed a similar rhythm. We stayed mostly at the house in the morning, talking, reading, or just doing nothing. In the afternoon, a few of us went to a nearby taverna for dinner again. It’s interesting how often we fall back into this pattern of eating out together after a long week.

As the sixth week came to an end, it felt like a good balance had been found. The return to work, the small gaming sessions in the evening, the physical activity on Friday, and the relaxed days by the pool all came together in a way that felt both productive and pleasant.

Summary and self‑reflection

Looking back at Week 6, it felt like a return to a more “normal” internship rhythm, but with a bit more structure and calm. At work, I was able to work on a variety of hardware repairs and diagnostics, which improved my confidence with older and more complex systems. 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.

Outside of work, the gaming sessions, the paintballing day, and the relaxed evenings in the garden contributed a lot to my mood and well‑being. It also showed how important it is to balance technical work with social activities and downtime. The group had become a strong support system, and simple moments – like watching football or eating Bolognese in the garden – had a surprisingly big effect on my overall experience.

Entering the final weeks of the internship, I feel more grounded and better prepared for the remaining tasks at work. The contrast between busy workdays and relaxed weekends has helped me enjoy the time in Crete even more, and I’m looking forward to the next phase with a clearer and more balanced mindset.