CYA was the time of my life!

I had a wonderful time studying abroad through CYA due to the student support services, travel experiences, cultural excursions, and internship opportunities that were provided. Having the chance to travel to both Crete and the Peloponnese region in the country of my heritage was a once in a life time opportunity, and I am so grateful that these experiences were included in the program costs, as they would have been an undertaking to plan on my own. Additionally, the provision of daily lunches during the week was greatly appreciated. While we did not have the opportunity to immerse ourselves with local Greek students, I did feel that my classes offered field trips that gave us a greater sense of the local culture - especially my Sustainable Social Housing Course with Dr. Evgenia Tousi, where we took weekly field visits to social housing neighborhoods around Athens. These field visits were both informative and eye-opening and allowed for the course to be very engaging as a study abroad student. Additionally, I was able to take part in an internship at a local environmental non-profit through CYA and feel like I have gained so much both academically and professionally throughout my experience. For a student hoping to meet more international students or fully immerse themselves in an international language and culture in an unsupported environment, this may not be the ideal program for them. I would instead recommend this program for a student that does not have much travel experience and desires more support from the program they take part in, as the caring faculty as well as the presence of American peers make the adjustment to a foreign country with an unfamiliar language much smoother. Overall, I learned a variety of skills while studying abroad, including time management, budgeting, the importance of self-care, and cultural interaction. As I had little travel experience outside of the US going into my semester abroad, I felt that this program was very worthwhile, as it provided me with the support and resources to live own my own in a foreign country, in addition to planning trips around Greece and other parts of Europe. Coming off of my semester at CYA, I felt empowered to travel on my own without fear, and I appreciate all of the knowledge I was able to gain while in a supportive and encouraging environment.