What I’ve been doing here in Sofia is an internship at Acibadem City Clinic Hospital “Tokuda”. I have been well received here, although the language barrier sometimes causes challenges. Everyone has been nice even though sometimes there hasn’t necessarily been a common language.
In January I was in Urology ward. It was nice being there, though I’m not sure how much new things I actually learned there. Only the younger nurses spoke English, and sometimes I had shifts where we didn’t have anyone speaking English there.
In February, so far I’ve been at Orthopedics & Traumatology ward, which has been interesting. I have learned new things about for example, surgical dressings and wound care. I’m also going to a different department this month, but I’m not sure where yet.
Tokuda Hospital, with Vitosha mountain in the background (where I’m planning to go on a hike someday!)
I haven’t noticed that many differences when it comes to working culture, but here (atleast in this hospital) the nurses work 12 hour shifts, whereas in Finland it’s usually 8.
Aside from internship, I’ve spent a great deal of time exploring the city, and other parts of the country. I went to Bulgaria’s second biggest city called Plovdiv for a weekend, and I really enjoyed that city (actually a lot more than Sofia). There was a lot of cool and very historic stuff there, for example this Roman Theatre:
I spent January mostly by myself, because there wasn’t any erasmus events for people on the exchange. But in February these events have now started and I have met lots of great people from different countries at them.
I still have one month left of exchange, and I’m sure it will be a great time!
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