CYA - Study in Greece (Semester Program)

This program is unique for the warmth and welcoming atmosphere created not just by the faculty and staff, but the students and strangers in the surrounding neighborhood as well! Even during the difficulties caused by the pandemic, CYA managed to provide us with the full Athens (and Greek in general) experience while keeping within safe, healthy guidelines. I would recommend this to anyone remotely interested in Greece, and especially to Classics students. Be especially ready to take any opportunity for adventure—there's so much to do!

Something that stood out to me in the midst of my studies with CYA is how the professors truly care about the students, and they have an understanding that this semester abroad is not solely meant for academic achievement, but really it is meant to guide you in a direction of personal growth. You learn how to balance on one side the school work, and on the other side, the new life in a city and culture you have just been introduced to. In reality, there is an endless list of benefits to spending a semester abroad in Greece, and these benefits contribute greatly to the personal, academic, and professional developments that undoubtedly you will acquire while there.

My most memorable and culturally eye-opening moment was flying a kite during Καθαρά Δευτέρα (Clean Monday) with my roommates on top of Philopappos Hill. If you are around in the Spring semester, I highly recommend flying a kite on Clean Monday!

I was able to connect with the 29 other students! We had a unique experience living in Athens during restrictions from Covid-19. It was really neat to see the city reopen as it got warmer and as restrictions lessened. The professors at CYA are absolutely terrific. They were very engaging despite teaching via zoom for much of the semester. I enjoyed the classes a lot! The food is also spectacular! There’s something for everyone. I made many great friends and memories during my 4 months in Athens!!

While my time at CYA was a little non-standard due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, it was still a phenomenal experience that impacted me as both a student and a human being! I participated in the program through a specialized program made in partnership with my college (Wellesley), so my time in Greece was also a little shorter than usual — we were on a quarter system during the pandemic, so I was only in Greece for 6-7 weeks, but the typical CYA student spends a full semester abroad! It's definitely a bummer that the pandemic/shortened term prevented me from taking part in the cultural activities that are usually offered (like joining local workout groups, babysitting, volunteering at the farmer's market, or learning how to carve marble!), but I still feel like I got to enjoy a whole lot of Greece! Through the CYA program itself, I got to travel to Nafplio, Kalamata, Olympia, Mystras, Sparta, and Delphi for a field study! This experience was genuinely life-changing — I fell in love with classical art and the history of the religious sites I saw, and I've actually decided to declare a second major in classical civilization with the hope to focus my study on classical religion! I think one of the best parts of Greece (and this program) is how many "ins" you have. Whether you're interested in history, or architecture, or art, or religion, or literature, or natural spaces, it's an INCREDIBLE place to be! I found myself feeling frequently overwhelmed by how cool it was to physically be in the spaces where stories I've read for YEARS were actually told (or even took place)! It was especially wonderful due to the weird period of time when I was in Greece. My time with CYA overlapped with the reopening timeline set in place by the government, so I got to explore places like Delphi and the Parthenon before tourism reopened, and being able to be in those places without the noise and bustle of hundreds of tourists was really really special. Aside from Greece itself, I really loved the academic program at CYA! Due to my shortened schedule, I was only taking one class with CYA (plus a virtual class from my home institution), but it was one of the BEST courses I've ever taken. My professor, Eleni Fassa, was so kind and enthusiastic, and she totally reawakened my childhood obsession with Greek myth and religion! We used the landscape of Greece as much as possible in this course, having classes at the Acropolis and at the sites on our field study. I just have so many good things to say about my time with CYA! The courses were amazing, the sights were amazing, the museums were amazing, the people were amazing, the food was amazing, GREECE was amazing! I highly recommend it!

I studied abroad in the spring 21 term at CYA, and was impressed despite occurring on the back end of the pandemic. The in person Mythology and Art & Archaeology class research papers were new and challenging. Classes also took place at archaeological sites so we experienced in person what we learned about. Our field study involved lectures at historical archaeological sites throughout Greece including Delphi and the Peloponnese. Being a group of 83, plus the other CYA group of 30, I was especially impressed at CYA's high level of coordination and planning to accomplish this during COVID. The location of CYA, next to the Panathenaic Stadium, is very ideal for social and academic adventures throughout the city; the neighborhood of Plaka and Pangrati felt very safe at night and CYA has supportive staff that are available 24/7 to help you out.

I studied abroad with CYA during the 2021 spring semester and even though travel was restricted and various places were closed due to Covid, I still had an amazing experience. During those times when I couldn't go to museums or archaeological sites, I walked for miles around the city with my friends. From the beautiful Plaka neighborhood, the lush National Gardens, and the farmer's markets on Tuesdays and Fridays, we had a blast getting to know the bustling city of Athens. I was also able to take classes centering modern Greek politics and anceint Greek topography. Even though those two subjects have very little in common, it was interesting to learn about Greece from a modern and ancient perspective. I loved every minute of my time in Greece with CYA and wouldn't trade it for the world!

College Year in Athens (CYA) has the most supportive and caring staff. Starting before the program begins the pre-departure orientation was thorough and the staff was also helpful in the visa process. While in the program any time I needed anything I could email any person in the CYA staff and they would respond quickly, helping me solve any problem that arose. The program also has top notch professors that allowed me to be involved in field study as well as class discussion. I know I will continue to stay in touch with my professors throughout my life and use their input and advise. Finally, the program fosters an environment of peer connection. My program had about thirty students in it and by the end of the semester we had all gotten very close. I know that these people will be in my life for a long time to come and it is all thanks to CYA for bringing us together and holding events to encourage peer interaction. The time when all of these elements combined and allowed me to see the quality of the program was through the end of the semester field study. We spent eight days all together traveling mainland Greece together. This trip was full of cultural and historical significance that I will remember for the rest of my life. It was also a chance to spend quality time with my peers making memories. We visited the Peloponnese, Nafplio, Thessaloniki, and Delphi. We were able to sit in the Theatre of Epidaurus where Alexander the Great would have visited and the Venetian city of Nafplio which illustrates the strong history and resilience of the Greeks. I am more culturally educated and experienced because of the CYA program and I would recommend any student to participate.

It was such a unique experience to study abroad in Athens, but especially on the backend of the pandemic. The archaeological sites were incredible, and empty! CYA did their best to be flexible and accommodate us, facilitating a fantastic experience within COVID restrictions. The faculty, staff, and surrounding neighborhood welcomed us immediately, and we all felt like part of the family! It was pretty easy to travel around the islands and the mainland once travel opened up, and the CYA staff was more than happy to help us figure out all our transportation. I highly recommend this program!