της Sarah Baker, Nottingham school of Veterinary Medicine

Ivsa Nottingham - Thessaloniki exchange

Nottingham students visited Thessaloniki vet school, 6/11/13 - 10/11/13.
Wow. WOW. What an exchange. To be honest, I wish I could leave this report there as words cannot do justice to the incredible time we had but alas, I will try!
We took 12 students over from Nottingham to visit the vet school of Thessaloniki. Whilst there were several of us from 4th year (desperately making the most of the last 18 months of being a student!), we also had a mix of students from 1st, 2nd and 3rd year. We did not all know each other prior to the trip and so it was a great chance to make new friends within our own vet school as well as with the Greek students.
We took off early in the morning leaving the freezing temperatures and rain behind us to set down in a warm and sunny Thessaloniki. After being greeted at the airport, we were driven to one of the girl’s apartments where we were met with a very warm welcome with the rest of the Greek students and an accompanying Greek feast. After filling our bellies with a multitude of delights we were feeling pretty optimistic we were in for a great time and we were certainly not wrong!
After going and settling into our respective hosts’ houses, we went to a bar where the beer pump was in the middle of the table. A clever ploy to get you to buy ample beer as it quickly escalated into a competition to see who could pour the perfect pint and of course, who could consume the most. Our first evening in Greece and we were already loving it. The Greeks were very easy to talk to and not just about our shared passion for veterinary science.
The following morning we were shown around their vet school. This was fascinating as it could not have been any more different from our own. Set in the city on a bustling campus, the school was founded in 1950 and occupies a massive old building. It was clear that their teaching methods were all very traditional and it was nice to see laboratories dedicated to anatomy and histology as our experience is very different at Nottingham. We had the chance to go into their parasitology laboratory where we learned about the important parasites of Greece and compared them to those that pose an issue in the UK. There were a lot of preserved samples of parasites which, although made us lose our appetite for noodles ever again, were good to visualize; now that everything is digitalized at Nottingham it can sometimes be hard to imagine what these specimens actually look like.
We then went out to their small animal clinics which had a great atmosphere of eager prospective vets and clients with pets milling about. We were welcomed by senior vets who informed us on the history and structure of their veterinary school. We then piled into a consult room to go through the basics of a canine reproductive exam which was useful revision for the older years and a good thing to start practicing for our younger students. A highlight for us all was the exotic section of the clinic mainly because the vet was less human, more superwoman. A veterinary ophthalmologist, she also specialized in exotics and appeared to know everything there was to know, ever. She casually told us anecdotes of her operations on everything from dolphins to sugar gliders. We had the chance to hold some of the exotic in-patients which included poorly tortoises, hedgehogs, a hawk and a kestrel. It was interesting to hear about the sort of exotic pets kept in Greece and the health conditions most commonly seen.
Following our experience in the clinics we then were driven an hour outside the city to the ancient tombs of Philip II and Alexander which was both a compelling and yet every experience. With the excavations contained in a dimly lit underground museum it had an enriching atmosphere, enabling our imaginations to run away with us back to 3rd century BC. The drive out there was also interesting as it meant we got to see a snapshot of the Greek scenery outside the main city of Thessaloniki.
In the evening we trekked to the older part of Thessaloniki to a traditional restaurant to sample a true Greek meze. And oh good heavens. What marvelous food we had. With a variety of wonderful fresh breads, olives, cheeses and Mediterranean vegetables we all gorged ourselves stupid. A truly wonderful evening!
Everyday seemed to somehow, miraculously, top the last. Friday saw us go up the iconic White Tower of Thessaloniki to soak up the breathtaking views. We could rotate on the spot and were treated to just about every type of scenery possible. Across the glinting sea we could see Mount Olympus thanks to the gorgeously calm and cloudless day. And yet by turning just slightly either way, you could see the whole of Thessaloniki with mountains towering up behind it and the castle sitting on top, imposing down on the city. We caught a bus up to said castle which was in the same old town area as we had been the night before so it was nice to see it by daylight.
We arrived at the castle to yet more sensational views. When lunch arrived and we ate it by the castle, with 25oC sunshine beating down on us and in the company of our Greek friends, with the possibly the best views in Greece, that was it. We were in heaven. Never has so much food been unnecessarily packed away but it was far too delicious not to give into it. This did mean a post-prandial rest in the sun was required where we Brits tried in vain to sun ourselves like desperate reptiles. We followed this adventure with some shopping back in the city. Had it not been for the strict Ryanair regulations on hand luggage, we may have succumbed to mad consumerism of the amazing shops.
Following a much-needed rest at our host’s houses we headed Over to a party at their veterinary faculty. We were not sure what to expect as our own annual vet school party is a very civilized affair with lecturers handing out cocktails to us. A stark contrast to our own parties for sure; it was midnight by the time we got there and with promises of us staying out until 5/6am, our body clocks ere well and truly shot to pieces. However, we had an absolutely amazing time partying with the Greek vet students.
After just a few hours sleep we awoke to yet another beautifully sunny day in the city. Saturday was the day of the city rally and can only be described as immense amounts of fun. We separated into 2 teams and had a variety of challenges to complete. In the process we had fun exploring Thessaloniki with our new Greek friends who were exceptionally patient with us whilst we stopped to marvel at all the sights along the way.
I feel like here would be a good place to make an interjection about Greek bakeries. What amazing places. In fact, it is not really representative of our trip that I have got this far through the report and not mentioned them once yet so I can only apologize for that. You cannot go far in Thessaloniki without stumbling upon a bakery, each somehow more impressive than the last. Along with the traditional Greek food our hosts fed us, these bakeries were definitely to blame for the buttons popping off our jeans by the end of the exchange. An array of beautifully golden baked treats of every variety lined their enticing and pleasing shops. And whilst the Greek economy is nothing to be pleased about, our poor willpower did enjoy the stupidly cheap prices, allowing us to indulge heavily. I’m sure the Greeks are secretly thinking they now see why England is suffering such an obesity crisis.
Our city rally culminated in what was my personal highlight of the trip. We boarded an old pirate ship from the White Tower and went around the bay as the sun set upon Thessaloniki. A cold beer in hand and surrounded by wonderful company and scenery, the evening could not have been any more perfect.
We had one final night out with our new friends from both Thessaloniki & Nottingham vet school. After sleeping just a couple of hours that night we assembled for a concluding breakfast featuring (of course) a choice of both savory and sweet pastries.
Never has reality been quite so bitter, the post-exchange blues as severe as they were upon touchdown in the UK. Our Greek hosts were the most wonderful land kind-hearted people we could have ever wished for. However, for now we must remember and delight in the fact that the exchange is only 50% complete as February 2014 will see Nottingham giving Thessaloniki students a very warm welcome indeed.