Athena Study Abroad Program on Paros Island, Greece

Name: Athena Study Abroad Program on Paros Island, Greece
Brand: Athena Study Abroad
SKU: 15467
Rating: 5 (19 reviews)

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Location

Greece
- Paros

Term

Academic Year, Fall, Spring, Summer

Subject Areas

Art History Arts Classical Studies Creative Writing Cultural Studies English European Studies Film Graphic Design History Humanities Liberal Arts Linguistics Literature Philosophy Visual Arts Women's Studies +7

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Program Details

Program Type

Provider

Degree Level

Bachelors

Housing

Apartment

Language

English

Pricing

Starting Price

3600

Price Details

Athena has many different time lengths to study abroad. Whether that be for a few weeks in the summer or for an entire semester, we work with students to help them find the best fit for them. Included in our prices are classes, excursions, accommodations, airport pick-up, 24-hour emergency line, online account management, health insurance, official transcript, and the student's contribution to a charity of their choice. Short term prices start at $3,600 and semester prices start at $11,950.

What's Included

Accommodation Activities Classes

What's Included (Extra)

Excursions, airport pick-up, 24-hour emergency line, online account management, health insurance, official transcript, and contribution to charity.

What's Not Included

Airfare Meals

Last Updated: Jun 20, 2019

Last Reviewed: Nov 21, 2019

Wish List

15 travelers are looking at this program

About Program

The picturesque island of Paros is considered to be one of Greece's most beautiful island treasures. Paros' traditional villages of white-washed houses, narrow streets, flowered balconies, blue domed churches and hilly, vineyard-covered countrysides create the perfect backdrop for a study abroad experience of historic proportions.

With Greece's artistic history, it is fitting that Athena's partner school on Paros Island is the Hellenic International Studies in the Arts. HISA is strong in the humanities, offering such courses as history, philosophy, literature, painting, and photography, many of which take place on historical sites.

Athena Study Abroad also organizes trips to other Greek islands, like Naxos, Antiparos, Santorini, Mykonos, and Delos, so that exploring them will be easy and fun!

This program is no longer offered. View more programs from Athena Study Abroad.

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Program Highlights

The inentionally small nature of the program allows teachers to provide customized academic and developmental guidance to each individual student.
Each semester cultimates with a community showcase in which students have the opportunity to exhibit their semester's work to the island community.
Explore Paros, a Greek island in the Aegean Sea renowned for its traditional villages and beaches. It is small enough to retain the authentic Greek culture while having an active island community.
Go on sightseeing trips to Delos, Mykonos, Naxos, Santorini, and other famous destinations in Greece!

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Program Reviews

5.00 Rating

based on 19 reviews

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4 rating 0%
3 rating 0%
2 rating 0%
1 rating 0%

Academics 4.45
Support 4.95
Fun 4.9
Housing 4.75
Safety 4.85

Good for Solo Travelers, Students, Photographers

Showing 17 - 19 of 19 reviews

Study abroad with Athena was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I was originally attracted to their booth during study abroad fair day on Xavier University's campus because of its bright colors and warm welcome. An Athena employee instantly greeted me when I first walked up, giving me enough information that I didn't feel overwhelmed, but our conversation was engaging leading me to check out their website. The manual was super easy to read and all the information was given so I didn't really have any questions. When the application process started, Athena's website was super easy to navigate and I had no problem getting in all the required forms. Actually being in Greece was an amazing experience. Athena had everything planned from a greeting at the airport to ferry tickets to our destination island of Paros. One of the best parts about Athena's Paros Island program is throughout the month tat you are in Greece you get to travel to many different islands such as Mykonos, Santorini, Anti-Paros, Delos, Naxos, etc. The teachers are passionate about what they do and that was shown everyday in class. I wouldn't change my study abroad experience for anything and I am so greateful for everything that Athena Study Abroad has done for me.

I choose HISA and Athena because of the unique experience it could give me. I didn't want a experience of going to a university, and taking standard classes that I could take back in my home university. I wanted to learn things that I could only learn in this country, and could be seen first hand.
Honestly, HISA was just an amazing experience! The professors are all extremely knowledgable in their field, fascinating, and truly care and love teaching. That school, for a semester, becomes your family. This program also really challenges who you are, what you believe, and pushes you to your potential
The town is fairly small, but the students are welcomed with open arms into the community as long as you make an effort. It is a very laid back little place. There's not a ton of variety as far as things to do on the island, but I just enjoyed the laid back life.
You are island hopping most weekends and get to see 5 other islands, plus Athens. Along with the spring break field trip. There is also optional weekend hikes on weekends you are not traveling.
Lastly, the greek culture is just something that everyone should experience. The warmth, and welcoming atmosphere is overwhelming, but eventually, you learn to love it. The food is just always top notch. Everything is fresh, from the meat, to the veggies.

I would also highly recommend Athena Study Abroad to anyone, in fact, I have to many of my friends. Everyone in this small company is truly devoted to helping you in any way possible. They love their job, and it shows. When I study abroad again, I plan to go through them again!

What would you improve about this program?

I think that there should be an option for home-stays. As much as I loved living at Jimmy's, I think that students should have an option to stay with a local. This way, they are able to integrate themselves more into the culture, and learn the language.
I also wish there would have been more of a push to learn the language. I really do regret not learning more of it, and using it!
Other than that, no complaints!

My time in Paros Island, Greece can be described in one word: fun. The academic rigor of the classroom left much to creative interpretation with the ultimate responsibility and level of participation left to the individual. The staff was friendly, helpful, and above all really great to be around. I made lasting friendships among the other students in the program. Together in Greece we laughed, lived at the beach, and had a blast. We saw multiple Greek Isles on our adventurous field trips and took lots of pictures of everything from the gorgeous natural terrain to snippets of Greek cultural life. The food was fresh and reasonably affordable. Everything was within walking distance. And though foreign, and Greek to me, I loved every minute of it.

What would you improve about this program?

If I had to change one thing, I would say it's the way I packed. Athena tried to warn me, but when I saw the projected forecast in the 70s, I packed according to what I would wear at that temperature here in Southern California. In reality, it was extremely humid and 75 felt closer to 90. Less shoes, more shorts.

Also, it would be neat if Athena helped the students in booking their flights. Once we did that on our own, the program was great in taking it from there. But for someone with very limited travel experience, flight information can be a little tricky to conquer.

Questions & Answers

How many students attended the semester program?

My program had 11 students!

By Shira Stonehill on August 6, 2018

Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

With my major being as specific it is, I knew I would not be able to take a relevant course abroad so I was primarily searching for a free elective course that would broaden my horizons and take me outside of my comfort zone. Athena Study Abroad was one of the few programs I found that I felt had courses that allowed me to enjoy my time abroad, rather than spending my time studying and stressing. I specifically chose the program on Paros Island, Greece because it emphasized utilizing the outdoors as your classroom and offered a variety of unique classes that would teach me new skills, such as the painting course I enrolled in.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Athena Study Abroad is an external program, so I had to fill out two separate applications- one through my university, and one through Athena. Although I was responsible for gathering necessary materials on my own, both my university and Athena provided advisors that helped me immensely throughout the process. Whenever I needed assistance, both of my advisors responded quickly to my e-mails and helped me a great deal. The Athena advisor was especially helpful as my trip neared and I started wondering what types of materials I needed to bring vs. what I could buy there, the best way to get money abroad, etc. No matter how small or silly I felt my questions were, Athena's advisor always responded within a day which helped ease my worries.

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What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

My biggest piece of advise is to go alone and to say yes to every new opportunity you have (within reason of course). My entire study abroad experience with Athena was a new experience- I had never really been abroad, I went without knowing anyone else going on the trip, and I had no clue how to actually paint. Although those factors made me nervous, they are also why I ended up loving it so much. I made three incredible friendships while I was there- people I still keep in contact with- I learned a new hobby that I love, and I now feel more confident going abroad again by myself. It was very liberating.

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The average week was filled with traveling to different islands, going to class, and having the freedom to explore Paros on your down time. It was really a laid back program that consisted more of learning through travel and experience than sitting in a classroom all day. In an average week, we went to at least two other islands or had a couple day trips to other parts of Paros. On days that we were not traveling, we would have class.

Occasionally, my painting teacher would give our class a small assignment while we were traveling- such as when we went to Santorini for a few days and asked us to sketch or paint a small picture while there. When we did not have classes or trips scheduled, you were free to do as you please and explore Paros.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it? How did your views on the issue change?

I think my biggest fear was just all the unknown factors I wondered about before I left. Would I like the people on my program? Would I be completely horrible at painting? Would I get lost? Would I like it there? But as soon as I got there those fears weighed less and less on my shoulders. I made amazing friends, I ended up loving painting, and even though I did get lost my first day in Athens, I ended up finding my way back (like I always say- you can't really be lost if you have no clue where you're at or where you're even going anyways). Despite one of my initial fears actually happening, I was able to overcome those worries just be immersing myself in the experience and being willing to do things I may not typically do.

Alexandra Lind

About Athena Study Abroad

Athena Study Abroad was designed by knowledgeable and caring professionals with one goal in mind: to bring authentic study abroad experiences to life that involve real cultural immersion aspects. Athena strives to provide programs that embrace personalized experiences at small overseas schools, bringing each student into close contact with the...