My name is Javier Palma Arco, and I had the opportunity to participate in laboratory practice this past August at the University of Opole, Poland, in the Department of Biochemistry.

Our work involved cultivating a series of cancer cell lines and testing the addition of a peptide to inhibit their carcinogenic potential. It was truly fascinating, as I had never done anything like this before at my own university.

Our tutor was Professor Rombel, and we also worked alongside her laboratory colleagues and one of her students. They made us feel very welcome and significantly eased our stay in the city. They even assisted us in planning trips to other cities and shared insights into Polish culture.

The medical students responsible for helping us integrate were equally welcoming. They organized several social events to ensure we felt comfortable. We explored almost the entire city and especially loved Bolko Beach.

Finally, whenever we had questions about the Erasmus paperwork, the office in charge provided clear and helpful answers, and they were always pleasant to work with.

Overall, our stay in Opole was phenomenal.