My trip to Finland was quite an amazing experience. The work placement was very beneficial and I learned many new skills. The people I worked with were very friendly and helpful and tried their best to help me gain these new skills and techniques that will benefit me in my future career. I gained a lot of confidence in myself also while working on my placement and also in my college- GTI. I am quite an independent person for my age but the journey definitely showed me how independent I am and also how courageous I can be. I met a lot of new people in the college, and also in my work placement. They were all very friendly and could speak a little bit of English which helped. In the future I think this opportunity has helped me in many ways, the opportunity to get a job will be much brighter with my Erasmus+ trip on my CV , and also has given me more confidence to do things independently without any help. I feel i benefited a lot from the trip living away from home and also working in a different environment which I am definitely grateful for . I can now put all my professional skills that I learned and the new techniques I learned into practice, which I am grateful for and I am glad that I got to be part of this great experience.Thank you Leargas and also GTI for giving me this opportunity.
I spent three week studying and practicing hairdressing in Finland. I will always be extremely grateful for this opportunity. It was amazing to experience the Finnish culture and the people were also so friendly and welcoming.
The language barrier was difficult at first but everyday our communication with the Finnish people improved. I found that my communication skills improved greatly because of this and I find it easier to interact with people now. For our first week, we were in a hair and beauty college. The teacher, Janika, could not have been nicer. She showed us to our accommodation and helped us settle in. The college was very modern and had up to date equipment. The students were shy at first but we started to develop friendships by the end of the week. I loved talking to the students about hairdressing. They had really interesting views. For our second and third week we were working in a salon in Pori. It was a quiet salon but we still learned a few things by watching the hairdressers. This work placement will really stand out on my CV. Not many people can say they were picked to work in a salon in Finland! I am very thankful for this as it will help a great deal when I am job hunting in the future. All of the girls in the salon were lovely. We got on so well and they were more than happy to answer any questions we had. They even bought us some Finnish food. There is a traditional Easter dessert that is very popular and they wanted to share their culture with us. We still keep in touch on social media. Helsinki and Rovaniemi are two beautiful cities that we were able to explore during our time there. We learned about the history of the cities and got to see its stunning architecture.
The language barrier was difficult at first but everyday our communication with the Finnish people improved. I found that my communication skills improved greatly because of this and I find it easier to interact with people now. For our first week, we were in a hair and beauty college. The teacher, Janika, could not have been nicer. She showed us to our accommodation and helped us settle in. The college was very modern and had up to date equipment. The students were shy at first but we started to develop friendships by the end of the week. I loved talking to the students about hairdressing. They had really interesting views. For our second and third week we were working in a salon in Pori. It was a quiet salon but we still learned a few things by watching the hairdressers. This work placement will really stand out on my CV. Not many people can say they were picked to work in a salon in Finland! I am very thankful for this as it will help a great deal when I am job hunting in the future. All of the girls in the salon were lovely. We got on so well and they were more than happy to answer any questions we had. They even bought us some Finnish food. There is a traditional Easter dessert that is very popular and they wanted to share their culture with us. We still keep in touch on social media. Helsinki and Rovaniemi are two beautiful cities that we were able to explore during our time there. We learned about the history of the cities and got to see its stunning architecture.
My experience of hairdressing in Finland was amazing. I was so grateful to be picked to go, and was so surprised that I was going to Finland! As I could never have never imagined me even going there on a holiday. This experience has definitely opened my eyes to travelling the world with my qualification. When we first arrived I was scared as it was such a culture shock. I really didn't know how I was going to take this experience. Fortunately for me it only got better and better. I felt completely independent after it, as every decision made about going places was made completely by myself. The working aspect was great also. The ladies we worked with were so nice and even just by observation I felt like I learned new skills. It was really great to see how they work over there, compared to our salons in Ireland. I really feel that it has definitely enhanced my job opportunities. Even just having down that I worked in a hairdressing salon over in Finland shows I am passionate about what I do. I am extremely grateful to GTI and Leargas for this amazing opportunity.
This was a good experience working abroad because I could assess how good I am at working in my industry even though it was far from home and in a different culture, with different types people and language.
I was also able to show what I can do and what I need to learn. I don’t know why but I felt very relaxed there. They liked me so much and said I am one of the best hairdressing students to have come from the GTI college. In the past two years I have worked so hard to get where I am now and as a result they even offered me a job. I found this salon were very professional with high standards, so I enjoyed it so much. I would recommend any student to do the Erasmus+ placement if they get the opportunity. I realised that this is what I want for my future, to be an excellent hairdresser. In terms of cultural experience, I understand that people aren’t afraid to say what they think, but the positive spirit that I experienced in Tenerife gave me the best opportunity to change myself for the better, to be more positive and confident in myself. In regards to job interviews, I now know how to show myself as being the best that I can be because I got great support from my salon manager, so it will help me to show myself in future in my best light. So thank you very much to all in Tenerife, Leargas and GTI, for this great experience.
I was also able to show what I can do and what I need to learn. I don’t know why but I felt very relaxed there. They liked me so much and said I am one of the best hairdressing students to have come from the GTI college. In the past two years I have worked so hard to get where I am now and as a result they even offered me a job. I found this salon were very professional with high standards, so I enjoyed it so much. I would recommend any student to do the Erasmus+ placement if they get the opportunity. I realised that this is what I want for my future, to be an excellent hairdresser. In terms of cultural experience, I understand that people aren’t afraid to say what they think, but the positive spirit that I experienced in Tenerife gave me the best opportunity to change myself for the better, to be more positive and confident in myself. In regards to job interviews, I now know how to show myself as being the best that I can be because I got great support from my salon manager, so it will help me to show myself in future in my best light. So thank you very much to all in Tenerife, Leargas and GTI, for this great experience.
My time on the Erasmus+ was an unforgettable experience. This was a scary and exciting time for me as it was my first time abroad and away from my family for so long. Arriving at my accommodation and getting to know my new flat mates was exciting.
On my first day at the New College Lanarkshire I was introduced to the head of the college and the head of the hairdressing. A timetable was set up for me of what I would be doing each day for the next three weeks. The salons in the college are beautiful and the staff are very nice and helpful. During my time there I learned so much about the colours they use, the up styles they do and competition work. Courses that I don’t do in GTI like barbering and makeup, I got the opportunity to do them also. I was with first year some days and some other days with second years. When I was with the first years I knew a lot more than they did, this gave me the confidence that I never had before, teaching the skills that I already knew. The days I was with the second years I was in an open salon day and would be working on real clients, this also gave me confidence as I don’t work with Wella colour and this gave me much more of an understanding of colours.
Learning about their culture was interesting and their way of speaking, it was difficult to understand it sometimes. I explored Edinburgh also, seeing the old castle and the views, it was breath taking. I also took the Glasgow bus tour which was also interesting, learning about the history of the city. I went to art galleries, Celtic park and lots of different cafes.
My time in Scotland was amazing and I will never forget it, although at times it could be hard and I could get a little homesick but that was understandable being away from home for the first time for so long. I never wanted to give up my experience or drop out. I went alone on this trip as I was the only hairdressing to go to Glasgow. It was understandable to be scared but I am proud of myself that I have done this alone as I now know that I have the confidence to take anything head on. I have made so many new friends on the trip with my flat mates and in the college and will hope to be seeing them all very soon.
On my first day at the New College Lanarkshire I was introduced to the head of the college and the head of the hairdressing. A timetable was set up for me of what I would be doing each day for the next three weeks. The salons in the college are beautiful and the staff are very nice and helpful. During my time there I learned so much about the colours they use, the up styles they do and competition work. Courses that I don’t do in GTI like barbering and makeup, I got the opportunity to do them also. I was with first year some days and some other days with second years. When I was with the first years I knew a lot more than they did, this gave me the confidence that I never had before, teaching the skills that I already knew. The days I was with the second years I was in an open salon day and would be working on real clients, this also gave me confidence as I don’t work with Wella colour and this gave me much more of an understanding of colours.
Learning about their culture was interesting and their way of speaking, it was difficult to understand it sometimes. I explored Edinburgh also, seeing the old castle and the views, it was breath taking. I also took the Glasgow bus tour which was also interesting, learning about the history of the city. I went to art galleries, Celtic park and lots of different cafes.
My time in Scotland was amazing and I will never forget it, although at times it could be hard and I could get a little homesick but that was understandable being away from home for the first time for so long. I never wanted to give up my experience or drop out. I went alone on this trip as I was the only hairdressing to go to Glasgow. It was understandable to be scared but I am proud of myself that I have done this alone as I now know that I have the confidence to take anything head on. I have made so many new friends on the trip with my flat mates and in the college and will hope to be seeing them all very soon.
I’m only home a week and already I miss Tenerife a lot. Mostly I miss the hot weather, the relaxed lifestyle, the buzz of being somewhere new and our first time away from home. I did my work experience in hotel Jardines del Teide in Salon Del Belezza. In the salon only one girl spoke a bit of English but we got along very well. I was allowed to do the usual trainee jobs I do at home such as washing hair, applying colour, blow drying, general upkeep of the salon and reception duties.
A lot of the time I had to speak to the English and Irish clients as the staff sometimes found it hard to understand what they were saying but I didn’t mind this and soon became very familiar with taking appointments even though I had to write in Spanish. This is where the Spanish classes we attended before our trip came in handy. Ana, the owner and only hairdresser in the salon thought me different techniques she learned. I was happy to learn her way and she was intrigued to learn mine. Even though she spoke very little English and I spoke very little Spanish we understood each other most of the time. She thought me a completely different roller set, she learnt in her training days and I was delighted to be learning new skills. The first few days of our trip was a bit of a culture shock to us as we were not used to seeing the sun and wearing sun cream but we soon adapted to it.
I feel that the new skills I learned on my placement we help me in the future and enhance my CV greatly because I have worked abroad and experienced a different culture. I also feel that I am more independent as I lived away from home for 3 weeks as well as travelling to work on a bus every day in a new country and exploring a new place. I was nervous when I found out I was going to Tenerife as I didn’t know anyone else from our group even though there were two other hairdressers but I wouldn’t know them that well. I found out 2 weeks before takeoff that I would be sharing with a beauty student- Shauna- who like me was a reserve, so we got chosen at a later date. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I had never met her but I was as lucky as we clicked and got on so well it felt like we had known each other for years. All the group got on very well so we were very lucky. Tenerife is definitely a place I would love to travel to again and I would love to see the lovely girls I worked with again even though we are keeping in touch on Facebook. The Erasmus+ trip has given me the much needed confidence I needed in myself to go and work abroad and not be afraid to leave home and discover new places and I am eternally grateful that I was given this chance during my time at GTI.
A lot of the time I had to speak to the English and Irish clients as the staff sometimes found it hard to understand what they were saying but I didn’t mind this and soon became very familiar with taking appointments even though I had to write in Spanish. This is where the Spanish classes we attended before our trip came in handy. Ana, the owner and only hairdresser in the salon thought me different techniques she learned. I was happy to learn her way and she was intrigued to learn mine. Even though she spoke very little English and I spoke very little Spanish we understood each other most of the time. She thought me a completely different roller set, she learnt in her training days and I was delighted to be learning new skills. The first few days of our trip was a bit of a culture shock to us as we were not used to seeing the sun and wearing sun cream but we soon adapted to it.
I feel that the new skills I learned on my placement we help me in the future and enhance my CV greatly because I have worked abroad and experienced a different culture. I also feel that I am more independent as I lived away from home for 3 weeks as well as travelling to work on a bus every day in a new country and exploring a new place. I was nervous when I found out I was going to Tenerife as I didn’t know anyone else from our group even though there were two other hairdressers but I wouldn’t know them that well. I found out 2 weeks before takeoff that I would be sharing with a beauty student- Shauna- who like me was a reserve, so we got chosen at a later date. I wasn’t sure what to expect as I had never met her but I was as lucky as we clicked and got on so well it felt like we had known each other for years. All the group got on very well so we were very lucky. Tenerife is definitely a place I would love to travel to again and I would love to see the lovely girls I worked with again even though we are keeping in touch on Facebook. The Erasmus+ trip has given me the much needed confidence I needed in myself to go and work abroad and not be afraid to leave home and discover new places and I am eternally grateful that I was given this chance during my time at GTI.
Having completed my Erasmus+ Programme in Tenerife, for me it was a very positive experience. When I heard about the opportunity to go abroad I knew I had to apply as I have always wanted to travel and this was the perfect opportunity for me to do so and to my delight I was offered a place. I was a little apprehensive in the beginning as everyone would be, in a new place with a different language and new surroundings but the fact I was going with my friends made it much easier. During my first day of work placement in Nammu spa in La Plantacion Del Sur hotel I felt totally at home. The staff were so kind and welcoming and after a day I felt so at home. Any questions I had they went out of their way to answer and help me. I learned so many new skills and techniques and experienced the culture during my three weeks. I can now add the positive experiences I had to the treatments I perform at home. I enjoyed the positive feedback I received from my clients. I started to feel much more confident in myself and my abilities and I began to pick up on the language, learning new words each day with the help of my colleagues which in turn helped me communicate with my clients much easier. I made so many new friends within my work place and with the group I traveled over with, which made the experience so much more enjoyable. Reflecting on the whole experience, I feel that it has been incredibly beneficial to me, helping me gain much more confidence. As I have always wanted to travel and work abroad I feel that this experience will make me more employable in the future. In fact having concluded my placement my manager asked me if I would like to come back and work in the spa when I finish my exams in college which I was delighted to hear.
Going on work placement in Glasgow was a wonderful experience for me. I got to meet new people, learn new skills and explore somewhere I have never been before. Galway Technical Institute and Leargas have given me this opportunity and it has given me the confidence of working in a different environment and being somewhat out of my comfort zone. I am so happy and proud that I got chosen for the Erasmus+ placement and if I ever get the opportunity to do something like that again in the future, I would not hesitate in saying yes. It truly was a great experience. Glasgow is a gorgeous city and everyone was very friendly which was a great plus. I got to learn things that I haven't yet got the opportunity to learn yet and I feel that having this on my CV will be a great benefit in the future in terms of looking for a job. Going on this placement, I had to think about a lot of things such as studying for my upcoming exams and also my job back at home. I wanted to make sure I could keep up with my work and also not let my boss down. I felt that even though I was away and learning new skills, I know they will come in handy when it comes to my exams and has given me the confidence to do well in them. I am so grateful and appreciative of this opportunity and will be recommending anyone who has the same opportunity to put themselves forward and say yes as I am guaranteed they will love it as much as I did.
My overall thoughts and feelings about my Erasmus + placement are very positive. I loved each and every moment of the placement. Starting with the hotel and spa I worked in, the staff and clients where all very welcoming and warm. The staff took time out of their days to teach me new skills and thought new things about the industry that I had previously not known. The spa itself was beautiful. The treatments they offered in the spa where excellent and it was great to work in an environment with highly skilled therapists. I adapted quiet well to working abroad and I felt confident working outside my comfort zone. I also got to work on skills such as working as part of a team. I worked on my people skills each day. The language barrier was not too much of a problem as most people were also English speaking. Tenerife itself was a fabulous place with so much to do and see. The evenings after work where always so enjoyable and we experienced new things each night. I can confidently say I feel more confident as a therapist to apply my skills in the industry. It was a fantastic opportunity to practice various treatments such as massage. It has made me more confident in all of the areas of my course while also giving me confidence with clients. Since I have come home I have worked on being more professional which is something they were very strict about in the spa. I do think for future employment that I am more employable. It shows I can work as part of a team and work outside my comfort zone. I do think I adapted well to each challenge I faced while over in Tenerife. I loved the experience and I think it’s an excellent opportunity for anybody who can avail of it.
On my trip to Glasgow, I got to see how my course is taught and learned in another country. It allowed me to see how different it can be in other places and how good facilities can be. On my arrival to New College Lanarkshire I was amazed at the facilities and the modules. I got to practice new treatments over there which I wouldn’t get the chance to do at GTI, such as gel nails, acrylics and eye enhancements. This will benefit me greatly because if I go on to do a course in these treatments I will have a good basis to start with. I got to work on live clients and put my techniques and studies into practice over there on their salon days which really helped me boost my confidence. I got to meet new people, who were all extremely friendly and welcoming and I found this helped my communication skills, which is vital for the industry that I want to work in. I also got a new sense of independence, as I was living away from home and had fend for myself which I found was a great boost to my confidence to know I could manage living away from home. Overall my experience was amazing, I feel I improved my professional and practical skills while away and also my confidence overall has grown.
To summarise my Erasmus+ experience- it was one of the best opportunities I have ever been given. By making the decision to apply for the Erasmus+ was something I really had to consider. Would I be able to be away from home for three weeks, would I get time off work and most of importantly would I be fit to keep on top of myself with college work. I feel that I am more independent as it was the longest I have ever been away from home and know now that I can be away from home longer than just a weekend. As I was a reserve student for Tenerife alongside Ailbhe, one of the hairdressers, we were both thrown into the deep end. We were both chosen to go a few weeks before the placements were starting. We had never met before and were sitting on a plane for a four hour flight and were going to be sharing an apartment together for three weeks. We were just strangers to each other and weren’t sure how we would mix. Luckily enough we got on like a house on fire, we had a lot of the same interests and enjoyed each other’s company.
I was working in Hotel Troya SPA from monday to friday, and had the weekends off. It was a beautiful spa, really modern and had lots of facilities. I was working with three other therapists who were all from Tenerife. I was really lucky as the girls I was working with were very welcoming when I first started they were really friendly and helpful at all times. I developed new learning skills from doing different treatments on clients. I enjoyed meeting people from different countries who came into the spa. I felt my confidence has grown as I was given tips quite regularly from clients. I felt really comfortable in the environment that I was working in. If I had any issues or concerns the manager was always there to help. It was a learning experience and I learned more about the language that I didn’t already know. I love the environment of a spa, I feel that it is a place where people can just come in and relax enjoy the features and facilities and also benefit from treatments that there is to offer. The Erasmus+ programme has given me a good idea of what it would be like to work outside Ireland. I would highly recommend it to any students who are interested and if I could stay in GTI for another year I would definitely consider going back. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to give students the chance to broaden their ideas and encourage working and travelling abroad.
I was working in Hotel Troya SPA from monday to friday, and had the weekends off. It was a beautiful spa, really modern and had lots of facilities. I was working with three other therapists who were all from Tenerife. I was really lucky as the girls I was working with were very welcoming when I first started they were really friendly and helpful at all times. I developed new learning skills from doing different treatments on clients. I enjoyed meeting people from different countries who came into the spa. I felt my confidence has grown as I was given tips quite regularly from clients. I felt really comfortable in the environment that I was working in. If I had any issues or concerns the manager was always there to help. It was a learning experience and I learned more about the language that I didn’t already know. I love the environment of a spa, I feel that it is a place where people can just come in and relax enjoy the features and facilities and also benefit from treatments that there is to offer. The Erasmus+ programme has given me a good idea of what it would be like to work outside Ireland. I would highly recommend it to any students who are interested and if I could stay in GTI for another year I would definitely consider going back. It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to give students the chance to broaden their ideas and encourage working and travelling abroad.
Overall I feel that my Erasmus+ Placement was beneficial. I enjoyed going to a different country and experiencing a new culture and meeting new people. My work placement was enjoyable as the people that I was working with were extremely nice and helpful. I got the chance to put into practice the skills of massage that I had acquired at home. I also got to learn some new techniques in sports massage and lymphatic drainage massage which were completely new to me but extremely beneficial. I definitely developed confidence in myself and my skills as I had to figure out how to communicate with people from a variety of different countries who speak little to no English in quite a vulnerable environment. Unfortunately, my spa was very quiet with little appointments which left me feeling a bit bored some days as I enjoy being really active and busy. However, the staff tried their hardest to give me things to do and tried to include me as much as they could which was extremely kind of them. Tenerife was a great location and on my days off I got the chance to explore some of the main attractions such as Mount Teide, the Masca Gorge walk, Los Gigantes, Siam Water Park, horse riding up a mountain and of course the beach! I feel that this experience will definitely enhance my future job applications as a whole and has helped me to grow as a person. It was an opportunity that I am extremely thankful for and would encourage anyone to take the chance and do it.
I had a very positive experience in Tenerife. The work experience was challenging at times but I learnt some new techniques from observing others and I learnt about how a Spa was run in another country. I definitely have become more confident with my abilities as a therapist and also more confident as an individual in general. I felt proud that I was able to figure out things and give it my all while I was there. Although some aspects of it were hard I feel like I have a new outlook on life since I’ve been there and I have learnt that I am much stronger than I thought. I met a lot of lovely people during my placement and I have definitely enhanced my CV for future job applications. This is something I am very grateful for.
I did get to learn a small bit of Spanish and I think it is a language I would like to learn a bit more of in the future too. I believe my communication skills have improved overall as experiences like this can place you in situations where even if you can’t understand what the person is saying or they can’t understand you, you can communicate through body language and you become more self aware and aware of the atmosphere around you as a result. After completing my placement I want to continue to travel the world. I also know now more than ever that I am in the perfect career for me as I love being a therapist. I feel like these placements are highly beneficial for students not only to give them the opportunity to enhance their professional skills but to boost their confidence as an individual. It gives them a chance to travel and experience a new culture as well as a chance to grow as an individual and figure out your strengths. I am very happy to have been given the chance to participate in this placement and I do hope it continues into the future to help give young people an amazing opportunity to travel and learn new skills.
I did get to learn a small bit of Spanish and I think it is a language I would like to learn a bit more of in the future too. I believe my communication skills have improved overall as experiences like this can place you in situations where even if you can’t understand what the person is saying or they can’t understand you, you can communicate through body language and you become more self aware and aware of the atmosphere around you as a result. After completing my placement I want to continue to travel the world. I also know now more than ever that I am in the perfect career for me as I love being a therapist. I feel like these placements are highly beneficial for students not only to give them the opportunity to enhance their professional skills but to boost their confidence as an individual. It gives them a chance to travel and experience a new culture as well as a chance to grow as an individual and figure out your strengths. I am very happy to have been given the chance to participate in this placement and I do hope it continues into the future to help give young people an amazing opportunity to travel and learn new skills.
I really enjoyed my time in Glasgow especially the top class accommodation in which we stayed. In terms of our placement,Although the first 2 days we were in a care home where really there was not much we could do as we are not occupational therapists as the staff at the home thought we were. Our new placement was beneficial, working with the football team Queen of the South which was the best experience for me and one which I really enjoyed. I feel that I learned a lot from my time working with the team and especially from the teams physiotherapist- Ross who was an extremely nice, helpful, knowledgeable man and a credit to the team. I grew in confidence while living and working in Glasgow, and living away from my normal surroundings was a great help to me, as I made new friends and developed my social skills and became more independent which was a big achievement for me. I hope that my time spent in Glasgow will help me in the future in terms of employment and I am grateful for having got the opportunity to go.
The work placement was very beneficial for me, I had the opportunity to meet new people and to get to know better, people I already knew. I enjoyed sharing the apartment with my college mates, spending time with them by cooking together or visiting the city. I also feel my language skills have improved as I had to get use to a new English accent, different from the Irish one. Also my general geographical and historical knowledge have improved as I could visit a new country with its own landscapes, architecture and museums. In terms of the work experience itself I think I acquired new skills, especially in the field of sport massage as I mainly worked with football team and sport persons generally speaking. I learnt different techniques of treating a sport injury and I now have basic knowledge and skills in physiotherapy. Thanks to the Erasmus + experience I feel more confident about using different massage techniques, also the new skills I’ve acquired will definitely make more easy for me to find a job in the future.