Hellenic International Studies in the Arts (HISA)

HISA is a beautiful small program. The academics are engaging and flexible enough that you can really find yourself in the work, while not being so rigorous that you don't have time to focus on what's important: life in Paros. Every morning we would walk along the beach and through the town square to get to class, and it doesn't take long to stop feeling like a tourist. Pretty soon, returning from weekend trips to the other islands felt like returning home; to the streets and restaurants and bartenders and stray cats that I know and love.
By the end of my semester with HISA, all of the students were very close friends and most of us were writing novels. All of the faculty members are very kind and insightful and I was able to really get to know all of them, even those whose classes I wasn't taking. It's like a three-month artist retreat on a Greek island, what more could you ask for? The sky is blue, the water is wet. Once you arrive you'll never want to go home.
If you're just looking for a fun getaway you'll have some of the best months of your life, and if you're looking for a life-changing experience you'll find that too.