CYA - Study in Greece (Semester Program)

My semester in Athens was invaluable. I feel as though I grew as a person by creating an intimate and irreplaceable connection with Athens and the Pangrati neighborhood. Pangrati is the perfect mixture of historically fascinating, socially invigorating, and culturally welcoming. I will always cherish the connections that I made with locals, coffee shop baristas and store owners (many of whom became some of my most loyal study partners!). Athens, to me, is one of the best cities for study abroad; the food options were numerous (while Greek tavernas always rank as my #1), the nightlife was plentiful but not overwhelming and historical ruins and museums seemingly mark every street corner. Academically, CYA boasts a diverse faculty that bring international knowledge and experience. I found that much of my learning came from the one-on-one conversations and relationships that I developed with my professors. I learned experientially through attending football (soccer) matches, observing the famous May Day parades, and even just listening to my professors talk about their lives over coffee and dinner. I would recommend CYA to anyone who is truly interested in experiencing a culture that is politically active and socially vibrant.

Spending my semester abroad studying in Athens with CYA is one of the best decisions I've ever made as it helped me to grow as a student and as a person. My courses exposed me to aspects of life in Athens that I would not have seen otherwise, and the program was wonderful with the trips they took us on that allowed us to view different areas of Greece as well as many historical sites. Through CYA, I was able to get hands on experience aiding the immigrant community in the city, which is incredibly beneficial to my prospective future career as an immigration lawyer. My time spent in Athens with CYA was incredible, as I could not imagine having a well-rounded college experience without challenging myself in this way, by living in a foreign city and truly experiencing the culture there. CYA worked to expose us to different foods and experiences, helping to show us all that Greece has to offer, and for that I am eternally grateful.

CYA was an amazing way to experience Athens and Greek culture. It had excellent academics with enough work so you actually learn throughout the semester, but not so much that you feel unable to go out and explore Athens (it does get more work-heavy at the end). The housing was in local apartments with other students, and was a great way to have a bit of independence and immersion you wouldn't get living in a dorm. The city has so much to offer, with so many archaeological sites, museums, galleries, parks, and of course, the Acropolis. You also receive a card that lets you into every museum and archaeological site for free! Getting around Athens is not to difficult, as most things are within walking distance of your apartment, and if not, taxis, buses, and the metro are all pretty cheap. The culture and way of life in Greece is very relaxed welcoming, so it's easy to get adjusted in the city. I had such an amazing time in Athens, and would repeat the semester again in a heartbeat.

I had an awesome time meeting new people within the CYA program. The program has great diversity between small schools and majors, and friends are easy to make. I took a class that is outside my major and it turned out to be a life changing experience. CYA helps you set up your daily life, and when you take risks you will either be amazed at your success or they will also be there when you fall. For example, I explored Athens a lot and loved to find less touristy places. But one morning I was running late to a class I had that was meeting across the city, I decided to take a shortcut on a set of trails I had never been on before. I fell and hurt my ankle, so when I decided not to join my class I contacted a CYA administrator and she was very understanding and let my professor know.

Studying in Athens was one of the most invaluable experiences I have had academically and socially. The city, while much smaller in comparison to -- let's say NYC -- allows you to become comfortable with its long, windy streets. By the first week or so you will already become acquainted with street names, transportation systems, local shops, and friendly faces. CYA's location is perfectly central to all major cultural areas, while still being far enough to avoid all the hubbub. Apartments were decently sized. There are a few things American students may have to get used to like turning on the hot water 20 minutes prior to showering, disposing of paper only in the waste basket, etc. You will be living among other Athenians, so students must be cautious of noise levels, too. Otherwise, our living spaces were very comfortable and gave a good sense of what it is like to live in a city like Athens.

I am certain that I will return to CYA to reconnect with all my dear Athenian friends and who knows, possibly pursue a career in Greece! CYA was instrumental in providing me with opportunities to pursue internships that align with my future career goals. For example, I worked at a gallery space a few minutes away from my apartment, I worked as a writer for an Athens based travel magazine, and I also interned at CYA's Media Lab. All you have to do is ask and the staff at CYA will do all they can to help you.

Academic wise, I do wish CYA had a more expansive curriculum. As an English major, I found myself inundated with Classics focused classes that would not transfer as literature courses at my home institution. Greece is much more than its ancient history, and so I think CYA could benefit from introducing more contemporary focused classes. My Immigration, Nationalism, and Citizenship political science class is an example of a class focused on the 'now' and looking at Greece alongside other major Western European countries. Nevertheless, all of my professors were extremely caring and would even invite their students to dinners and coffees!

If I could change one last thing about CYA, it would be their semester scheduling. I found it difficult to shift back and forth from having classes to long breaks. Especially for language classes, you need consistency in attendance to really solidify concepts. I found myself forgetting, loosing motivation, and feeling frustrated that finals took place immediately after our spring break.

Besides this one suggestion, I cannot express how happy Athens has made me. The friendships I have made, the independence it has given me...I would not trade it for anything!

CYA is a great program! On the surface, it seems to be really pricey, but for everything you get, it is worth it!
Each semester we go on three school-sanctioned trips. In the Spring Semester, we went to Delphi, the Peloponnese, and Thessaloniki. We get guided tours of every site, and we stay in 4-star hotels. We also review ICOMOS memberships--we get free admission to every museum and site in Athens, along with free admission to public museums and sites throughout Europe (and it lasts for a full year!).
The only 'complaints' I have are that some apartments are nicer than others, but it is decided where you live randomly, and that CYA only provides one meal per weekday, so we have to buy groceries or eat out. Otherwise, CYA is a perfect program for classics, history, and poli-sci majors!

Choosing to study abroad in Greece was one of the best decisions I could have made. It is a beautiful country full of rich history, kind people, and AMAZING food. Greece really has it all, and I learned that throughout my semester studying at College Year in Athens. I took a variety of classes from Modern Greek Language and Culture to History of Ancient Greek Sports. The courses were hands-on, many times being held in a museum, coffee shop, or the olympic stadium. CYA provided a plethora of extra-curricular opportunities for students. By participating in 3 different program-lead field trips, I was able to see much more of Greece than I would have without the excursions. The program also allows you to choose from 3 more optional trips, offers many opportunities to volunteer, play sports, attend cooking or marble-carving classes, etc. These are just some of the advantages of the program. Housing is extremely central and very close to many of the main attractions of Athens, as well as the academic centers themselves. I am more than happy with my experience at CYA in Greece, and am now proud to call Athens a second home.

My semester spent abroad in Athens, Greece was the most formative, eye-opening, and character building experience that I had at USC. While most people who go abroad, this time is one they fondly look back on as an adventurous vacation from school with more freedom then they have ever had. For me, however, this experience was the foundation for my future career path. It not only gave me a new perspective on the world but on my own dreams and goals as well. From my political science classes to my Ancient Greek sports class, I learned how interdependent our world is and how essential is it to have a global mindset with a broad awareness of those outside our own country or culture. It was refreshing to learn about history and current international policy decisions through the eyes of the Greeks, the founders of Western civilization, who are often forgotten in the international sphere.

Through participating in the Greek holidays, festivals, parades, and protests (accidentally) I saw how amazing Greece is as a country and if it wasn't for CYA supporting us to participate in the greek culture I don't think I would have been as in love with the country as I am today. CYA also offered weekly marble carving classes through a family run organization that was the most welcoming group of people I ever met. They fed us wine and dinner every night after class and really wanted to get to know you as individuals. This class also gave me a more personal understanding of the local culture and sprouted my artistic confidence. The most valuable transformation that occurred during my time in Greece was that I stopped only being a citizen of the United States, and became a citizen of the world. CYA provided everything I could have ever wanted in a study abroad experience and every day I wish I could go back and do it all again.