Amgad Abazeed, a PhD student from Egypt

I’m Amgad Abazeed, a PhD student from Egypt specializing in structural health monitoring. Participating in the 2021/2022 Erasmus+ KA 107 student exchange mobility program at the University of Valladolid was an incredible opportunity. Initially, I was worried about traveling outside of Egypt for the first time, but upon arrival in Valladolid, I didn’t feel like a stranger. Despite the language barrier, the people here are lovely, and if you ask for help, they’re eager to offer assistance and support.

Plaza Mayor, Valladolid

Valladolid is a serene and stunning city with all the necessary amenities, I enjoyed staying there. Also, working with prof. Antolin and the Structures Laboratory team members has been a delight. And I’ve had the pleasure of making new friends from Spain, Mexico, and Brazil. I’m grateful to everyone who helped me develop my skills and broaden my horizons. Finally, I would like to thank the International Relations Office of the University of Valladolid for the support and information that facilitated travel and accommodation.

Structures Laboratory, School of Industrial Engineering, University of Valladolid.

Port of Barcelona

This is Mukhammad-Ali Akhmatzhanov, Erasmus Student from Kazakhstan,

Winning Erasmus+ Scholarship could probably be considered as my biggest achievement so far, and everything has led to great experiences and adventures not only in Spain, but also throughout major countries across Europe.

Studying at the University of Valladolid for one Semester was also a whole new experience, as I met so many interesting people from different countries and cultural backgrounds. Moreover, our professors were all super kind and were always ready to offer help if needed. Sharing life experiences from the past, cultural and traditional exchange in a Spanish family made me dive into this atmosphere and so many people showed interest and love. Consequently, as the main language I was using in daily life was mostly only English, it helped me a lot to boost it to the next level and become a more fluent speaker.
I could manage to visit so many countries in Europe, but I have to say that Spain was the main highlight and every single time I was returning from another place, I felt like going home.

At the end, I want to say Thank You so much to the UVa Community and all the people who became my new family. It was extremely difficult to accept the reality and leave this country, but I will definitely come back in near future!
And if You have any questions or need some help or advice, You are welcome to contact me on Instagram at @mr.mad.ali