Iryna in Slovakia: lessons, friendships, and growth

When Iryna Kamak, a student from Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University in Ukraine, set off for her 8-month Erasmus+ internship in Slovakia, she didn’t just gain work experience—she discovered a new sense of purpose, belonging, and personal strength.

Iryna worked as a Customer Care Intern at a big corporate company. Her tasks included solving customer cases, monitoring KPIs, and sending follow-up emails to ensure smooth service. “... I learned so much more than I expected—especially about formal communication in both English and German, and how corporations use marketing tools effectively.”

But what made her internship truly transformative wasn’t just the technical skills—it was the people. “My team was incredibly supportive,” Iryna shared. “They helped me through even the toughest situations, especially when communication with clients became difficult or stressful.” Although her team was based in a different time zone, she still felt their encouragement and empathy from afar.

Overcoming challenges

The most challenging part of the internship? “At the beginning, there was so much new information, and dealing with difficult clients could be really overwhelming,” she said. But her resilience grew stronger. “Even if my questions were silly, my colleagues always answered patiently and shared advice.”

Outside of work, Iryna immersed herself in a vibrant international community. “I was worried it would be hard to integrate socially,” she admitted, “but the student community was incredibly welcoming.” From summer lake days and festivals to heartfelt farewell parties and shared memory books, her time in Slovakia became about much more than work—it became about people and shared experiences.


Living in Slovakia: cozy home away from home

Iryna appreciated the sense of safety in Bratislava and the ease of communication, noting how fluent many locals were in English.

Her reflections on Slovakia are both personal and optimistic. “Bratislava is constantly under construction,” she noticed, “but that just shows it’s growing. It’s a developing, evolving place—and so was I.”

Advice for future interns 

“Build friendships with other trainees as soon as you can. And always ask for feedback—you’ll grow so much.”

What’s Next? More adventures, more growth

As Iryna’s internship ends, she isn’t slowing down. “I want to do more projects like this one,” she said. “Being around young, motivated people with different life paths gave me the energy to keep pushing forward—to keep looking for my own.”

In just eight months, Iryna didn’t just complete an internship. She found a version of herself she hadn’t met before—stronger, more open, more curious. And now, with Slovakia behind her and new dreams ahead, she’s ready for what comes next.