Study abroad is useful and promising in all senses. There are new friends, new streets, new language, experience, fresh approach to the learning process and knowledge deepening.In these extreme conditions, in a good sense, you absorb the knowledge like a sponge, and it seems like you grow up faster. We have successfully completed a course of management in health facilities at the Graduate School of Management in Barcelona. 

GSM University is quite popular internationally. It is actively involved in student exchange programs, especially from Europe and Asia. Education gives a great opportunity to foreigners to get acquainted with Spanish culture and, of course, learn Spanish. In our opinion, Spanish is one of the most beautiful, living and emotional world languages. We are grateful to GSM University for new friends all over the world, that we have met in Barcelona.

When you live and learn for a long time in the same city, your world narrows to this very city. Other cities, much less other countries seem unattainably far and strange. Therefore, any trips give irreplaceable experience, unforgettable impressions and emotions.

Life in Spain and communication with the Spaniards sooth the soul and mind, as there nobody shows irritation and aggression, and nobody is in a hurry.  Soft and warm climate of the coast of  Atlantic Ocean makes life more comfortable.

Of course, the most amazing thing is to go to study for one term and therefore, return to the university with the new knowledge and skills. We have received this great opportunity, the students of Karaganda State Medical University, thanks to the home university.

Relationship between a student and a teacher is much less formal. This is reflected in referring with the informal "you". There are some exceptions: when a teacher is aged, then referring must be with the formal "You". Dress code: come to school wearing suit or official dress would be strange for both students and teachers. It is very common to have individual meetings with the teacher in a non-formal setting where a student can ask all sorts of questions about the subject or discuss a plan of any work. Thus, common language between teacher and student is getting better, and eventually the learning process becomes more alive and interesting. Students are given more opportunities to express their opinions and criticism. For example, our group mate was displeased with some points in the learning process on discipline of management and marketing. He expressed his opinion and further suggestions and his opinion was taken into account during the follow-up lessons.

Despite the difference in culture, language and great distance, we were able to get the full knowledge along with our fellow students at home, without academic debts and losses of hours. We have studied public health, epidemiology, and occupational health and mastered the basics of the Spanish language, but absolutely by a different method of teaching and the other view on the learning process. In addition, we have received impressive excursions both in the city, as tourists, and in various institutions, as professionals. We have seen and estimated the work of one of the leading hospitals in Barcelona, looked at the work process of Freixenet - the largest wineries in Spain, and Esteralla damm - the largest brewery in Europe, visited  Barcelona activa labour exchange, got acquainted with the principles and structure of their work.

It was an unforgettable experience and a great honor to represent KSMU in the international arena; we have coped with it worthily. We express our infinite gratitude to the leadership of our university for the opportunity to study under the program of academic mobility.

  Ashat Uresaev, 5-005 OZ (PHC)

  Nigina Sabirova, 5-005 OZ (PHC)

  Dias Omarov, 5-005 OZ (PHC)

  Fariza Tolegenova, 5-005 OZ (PHC)