CYA (College Year in Athens)

One piece of advice that I would give to someone going abroad, in general, and specifically in Greece, is that learning the basics of the native language is essential for a fully immersive study abroad. I had absolutely no experience with Greek and took a basic level of Greek language and culture class at CYA.

While I have always had trouble and anxiety surrounding language-learning, I loved my professor at CYA and felt so comfortable practicing my Greek in her classroom and in my neighborhood. Almost everyone in Athens can communicate with you in English, but whenever I at least attempted to use my Greek, I found that people were far more receptive to me. Learning and practicing Greek helped me make connections with locals because people were so excited to understand why I was learning the language and almost always offered to help me with my homework (whether I asked or not).

Learning the language is both a sign of respect and an extremely helpful tool in battling a sense of isolation in a new culture.

An average week is different for everyone. I did have some regularity to my schedule, but often enjoyed not knowing how my days would end up.

In the mornings, I would always go to the local gym about a half-mile up the street, shower and then go to class. I would have program-provided lunch between classes and then head to one of my three favorite neighborhood coffee shop. Coffee culture in Greece is huge (I went to a coffee shop on average once to twice a day). I would then spend my evenings with friends by going to dinner, going out in other parts of Athens, or exploring the tourist/local parts of the city.

I would have classes from Monday-Thursday and would spend most weekends either traveling around Greece or taking a few side trips to other countries.

One of my biggest fears about going abroad was that I would feel completely isolated from my environment and that I would shut down and miss out on important experiences.

I overcame this fear by both challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone while also cutting myself slack by taking time to myself when I needed it. Small moments of bravery led to some of the most impactful experiences: trying out Greek with someone I don't know, intentionally getting lost in a new neighborhood, volunteering with a local organization. Yet, it was also so important for me to recognize that it is ok to need alone time and that designated alone time can actually help lessen a sense of isolation.

I learned so much by simply observing my surroundings at coffee shops alone and going for daily runs around the historical sites and natural landscapes.

In short, remember to take a breath and find a contact where you are to mediate the situation. As long as you are in no immediate danger, you truly are ok. Take everything as an experience in and of itself.

When I was in Crete, a massive storm hit the island and my friends and I found ourselves stuck on the island for two days longer than intended. It was initially extremely stressful to figure out how to handle delayed and canceled flights in a foreign language and unfamiliar place. Yet, after we took a deep breath, my friends and I found that Aegean Airlines was more than willing to pay for our hotels, food, and transportation.

When my friend became sick in Athens, another friend and I took her to the hospital. We were all overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of the procedures in Greek hospitals, but called our program and had them translate for us. It's ok to ask questions and to ask for help!

My favorite stories are usually having to do with how Greece and things Greek continue to stay with an alum even after several years have passed since they completed their studies here. Many return, sometimes with their partners and families, having maintained their knowledge of Greek and often have improved it to a level close to fluency. Some continue to cook the Greek dishes they learned to cook while in the Program. Others return to visit with friends made in Greece while they were students at CYA. The connection to Greece is often a deep and permanent one. This is most rewarding.

Having already happily studied things ancient and classic while studying at CYA back in the day, I would take our courses on urbanism or anything environmental. This seems to me most relevant to the present. Likewise, our courses on international relations and politics would be valuable and extremely interesting. We have some of the best people in the field covering these subjects.

I’m not sure if this is unique, but it certainly does make me proud. We are not a large school with the capacity for thousands of students, but we operate as one by offering many options and services that go above and beyond what might be expected from a program of its size. I think this is because we have an extremely dedicated team. Everyone has a keen and genuine interest in what they do and a strong belief in the CYA mission. We work hard to deliver the best possible experience to our students.

I think that going the extra mile for the student, client, or customer, maintaining authenticity, and striving to promote and uphold high standards when it comes to teamwork, communication, and goals greatly contribute to attaining and maintaining a successful program or company. This is something CYA does and something our students and the entire CYA community benefit from.