IMPRESSIONS of the students who visited Serbia in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009

Mi intercambio en Belgrado:

Estoy a unas horas de regresar a mi hogar y realmente siento nostalgia, pues mi estancia en Belgrado fue muy agradable.

A nuestras llegada a la ciudad, tuvimos algunas dificultades, debido a que hay varias horas de diferencia entre Mexico y Belgrado, fue bastante cansado adaptarse, todo era demasiado extra;o y pues el idioma del lugar es totalmente diferente de mi lenguaje, y aunque al principio, toda la gente de aqui nos parecia demasiado seria, pudimos hacer muy buenos amigos.

Tuvimos algunos problemas y fue necesario cambiar de area de cirugia cardiovascular a cirugia vascular, pero fortunadamente, creo que fue muy provechoso el cambio. Tuve la oportunidad de estar en la sala de operaciones, realmente me apasiona la cirugia y creo que conocer esa parte de la cirugia me ha sido tan impactante, que la estoy considerando para ser parte de mi area profesional. En el hospital, la relacion con el personal fue muy agradable y aunque no todos hablaban ingles muchas veces se esforzaron para entablar convesacion con nosotros; los doctores nos explicaron muy detalladamente cada procedimiento que iban realizando y nos hacian algunas preguntas y aunque desde el inicio no nos pusieron un horario especifico ni obligatorio, nos agradaba tanto el tiempo ahi, que pasabamos hasta 6 o 7 horas por dia.

Las primeras semanas no tuvimos muchas actividades, debido a que llegamos antes de la fecha prevista, para arreglar todo, conocimos a una muy buena amiga que por cierto habla espa;ol tan bien que queremos adoptarla como Mexicana. Visitamos varios lugares de la ciudad que nos parecieron my interesantes, incluso hasta un lugar de comida Mexicana y fuimos a bailar salsa (se baila muy distinto a Veracruz), nos divertimos mucho. El estilo de comida aqui es muy diferente, sobre todo por la temporada, me fue un poco dificil acostumbrarme porque sus sabores son muy Fuertes, pero creo que voy a extra;ar las palatzincas. Pero creo que aunque la comida es un poco diferente, las personas son igual de amables que los mexicanos, con sus excepciones, como en todo lugar, claro esta. Nunca antes habia visto nevar y fue fabuloso jugar en la nieve, unque en la noche no estuve muy bien, creo que habia olvidado que soy de un Puerto muy caluroso, pero nada que la medicina no pueda aliviar para seguirse divirtiendo.

Aunque hubo algunas cosas no muy agradables que creo se podrian mejorar, dentro de la direccion de la organizacion, realmente estoy muy contenta por esta gran experiencia, ademas de que se que conocen mexico, por lo menos por las telenovelas, algunos hasta han aprendido espa;ol por verlas tanto, incluso hasta los doctores del hospital donde estuvimos asistiendo, aclaro, no todo lo que pasan en la TV es verdad. Creo que somos personas muy calidas y vivo en un pais tan maravilloso como este en el que me encuentro en estos momentos, con miles carencia pero tambien miles de oportunidades para los que esten preparados para recibirlas, asi es que en vio mis agradeciemientos a todos y espero que algun dia nos visiten, estariamos muy contentos de tenerlos en casa.

December 2009

Jesica Castillo Reyes, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, Mexico

I was at the Neurology Dept. My mentor was on holiday for the first three weeks of my stay. However, I was transfered to other subdepartments within the Neurology Institute. I first was in the movement disorders department. Here in the rounds the residents usually translated me the basics about the patients, or they showed me afterwards some representative cases so I could examine them and discuss about them. Here I stayed in the hospital around 5 hours per day. Later I was in emergency department and here also the staff was very attentive and explained all the cases, and I could even perform minor procedures such as arterial blood sampling. Later, when my mentor came, the practicals consisted in visiting patients with him, and he explained also a lot. It was a pity I didn-t understand the language, because otherwise I gess I could have still participated more and could have interacted more with the patients. The people from IFMSA Serbia in Belgrade were very kind and helpful in everything we need, concerning the proper clerckship as well as reccomending us what to see, to do and enjoy here.

September 2009

Manuel, Valencia, Spain

Serbia was overall a very good choice for ifmsa exchange. Belgrade is a beautiful city, with many green spaces, parks etc. and the two rivers (Sava and Danube) are the most recognizable part of it, offering nice view from the bridges and ex fortress-now park Kalemegdan. The rest of Serbia is worth discovering also and on weekends it is a wise thing to visit other cities close by, mountains or even cities in neighbour countries. I visited Novi Sad and near-by village Sremski Kalovci (very beautiful traditional village), Versac and Sargan 8 (steam machine railway that goes in the west of Serbia). People are very friendly and ready to help you. The younger ones speak English, but communication will not be a problem with the elder either (a phrase book and body language will help!). In the hospital (emergency neurology and then neurology institute), the staff was also friendly and they paid attention to the students, while they were not strict with the schedule, so it was a nice and very interesting experience overall.

September 2009

Jose, Spain

I thought the clerkship very nice at all. In the Vascular Surgery Departament I had the opportunity to help the doctors in the surgeries, my name was at the surgical map (list) like the other doctors every day so I knew what I would do that day in the hospital. People there all were very kind, since the laundries to the operation rooms. And I could also put some stitches! The city is really nice, lots of places to go, so the hostel Studentski Grad, and if you speak English, no problem, most of the people also speak and they help you anyway most of the times!

Summer 2009

Felipe Barbosa, Sao Luis-MA, Brazil

Just want to say that this month was excellent, that I enjoy the time that I spent here a lot, that you are an amazing organisation and that I am very glad because I chose Belgrade for the exchange program. Thank you very much. I don‘t have enough words to thank you all your kindness. See you soon! ¡Viva Mexico!

January 2007

Jose Angel Garza Cantu, Monterry, Mexico

When I arrived at the airport of Belgrade in September, Milica, my hostess, picked me up and we drove back by bus to her apartment. Milica, a nice medical student lives together with her friendly siter Ksenia, a veterinary medicine student in an apartment in the center of Belgrade. The next day at noon, we went to the neurology institute and met Milica Brkic, the NORE of Serbia. The whole work in the first 2 weeks consisted of morning visits in which we observed all patients in the department with frontal lobes dysfunction In the 3rd week I changed to the department of brain vascular diseases. There, I was introduced in CT and Ultrasonography, and the doctors explained me very many things and took care of me. The last week I went to the neurosurgery department and watched some neurosurgical impacts like: replacement of the dura mater by taking the fascia lata from the leg; removing a tumor in the left cerebellar lobe.

I worked in the institute from 10 am until 2pm and it was very relaxed. In the neurosurgical department I had to be there at 8 am. In general the serbian people are very polite, helpful and friendly. We visited a city called Nis in the south of Serbia. The Serbs eat much pork and drink much joghurt. They drink joghurt as if it is water. I can only recommend the bakeries. Some are open even 24 hours a day. In Belgrade it is cheaper than in Germany. In the discotheques are no clothe rules and the atmosphere inside is much more relaxed than in Germany. Belgrade is a nice city but nothing more, there are not so many things to see what would be new for german eyes. I think it is not comparable to other european capitals like Berlin, Amsterdam or London. Most of the young people can speak English but with the older generations it is difficult to communicate.

November 2006

Ali Sigaroudi, Cologne (Germany)

My stay in Bg was incredibile. There I met very interesenting and lovely people from Bg and from all over the world. I miss them a lot and I think of them all the time and I want to meet them somewhere again... Belgrade is a great city with very nice architecture. It’s a very nice place to visit, especially places like Kalemegdan, sailing on the rivers, swiming on Ada and when I was on practise in the Clinical Center... In Belgrade you needn’t go to sleep; simply because the city is giving you the energy and desire to come again.

Summer 2006

Silvana Stoimenova (Macedonia)

I have been so happy in this country. Really, all the people here are so kind. The hospital is great, all the doctors are wonderful. All the time they were trying to explain me everything. I feel at home, absolutely. Belgrade is a nice place. I was so surprised. Specially thanks to Jelena, Tanja and Igor. You are the best. If I have a chance to come back again I will. Thank you a lot!

Summer 2006

Daniel Gonzalez Gaytan (Mexico)

My practise was great...Really I didn't expect it would be like that. Everybody was nice with me, the city too, was a surprise and in the hospital I was very lucky because the professor and the other doctors explained me everything.

The only thing I complain about is that it was too hot...but nobody’s to blame! And what about the social program? Yes it was interesting, but it was a pity because I couldn’t go to Novi Sad... I arrived too late and I came back too early!!!

And I liked the “Nikola Tesla museum”... It's nice. And of course now I have friends everywhere in the world! I think it's worth to do it again!! kisses-kisses

Summer 2006

Elena Gineli (Italy)

The practise on the endocrinology department was a bit boring, but when I went to the paediatrics, it was fantastic. I learnt a lot.

About social program, I think we were lucky because in other countries they don’t have as good social program as in Belgrade, we visited museums, churches, Kalemegdan, Novi Sad...and I was on Zlatibor with you! It was great!!

About the people in Belgrade...the people are the best, everybody was kind, friendly and polite with me, everywhere in the hospital, people from yumsic like you....and now I have a lot of new friends from different places in the world. A lot of kisses!!

Summer 2006

Paola Chamocho Lloro (Spain)

I just have good things to say about my practise in Belgrade... We learnt a lot of things in the hospital. The doctors were so kind, they explained every step that they took.

About the people and the social program, I don´t have words to describe...everything was so organized and everybody was ready to help us anytime and of course, to have fun with us!

I didn’t forget to tell somehting about the city. They showed us the most beautiful places in Belgrade. It was amazing...I liked it a lot

Summer 2005

Vitor de Sousa Medeiros (Brazil)

In Kragujevac I didn't have any problems, everybody was polite with me, in the hospital also. I liked very much the city, our weekend in Belgrade. The dorm was nice, the food was not bad. In the hospital doctor Violeta tried to help and to show me intersting things. So I loved very much my trip to Serbia..really! In fact I want to come back...

Summer 2005

Erica (Italy)

I really enjoyed my trip in Kraguyevac, cause I've visited a beatiful and original country and I really spent my time like a typical Serbian guy...the hospital experience was great...doc. Boban taught me a lot of things and left me do many things on my own...I liked it really so much. The capital...the trip to Belgrade was beatiful and I liked so much all the monuments that I've seen...the only negative thinge that I noticed was...the food! Please, don't hate me, but I like so much Italian food and I don't like any kind of foreign food...I'm also very happy for the guys who I met and I really hope to see them again...

Summer 2005

Michele (Italy)