CYA - Study in Greece (Semester Program)

What a wonderful program! I loved living in the city center of Athens! The professors and staff helped me learn about the Greek culture- past and present! I traveled to Delphi, Crete, and the Peloponnese (Olympia and Sparta) on the included field trips guided by the professors- experts in their fields. I ate the local food at the many tavernas and drank coffee at local cafes. My classes went on field trips to museums, sites, and cafes around Athens. I miss Greece already!

The strengths of College Year in Athens definitely included the fact that they were able to offer a variety of opportunities for all academic and non-academic interests. They also did a fantastic job with our experience outside of the classroom.
What I learned outside of the classroom was most definitely the most valuable piece I took away from studying abroad. College Year in Athens does an incredible job at making sure you learn not only in the classroom but also outside of the classroom with the optional and required field trips that are offered. Outside of the classroom I was able to connect with the Greek culture by visiting coffee shops, going to the National Garden, and even going to a different part of Athens and interacting with the locals. I was luckily able to learn a little bit of the Greek language and was able to interact on a different level with the Greek population. I also volunteered most of my time at the refugee center in Athens and I was able to immerse myself in the culture and the lifestyle of a refugee. I was able to learn incredible stories about individuals who were of a variety of ages and came from different places. Outside of the classroom I was also able to learn a lot about myself, who I really am and the impact I can have on a society and those around me.
In academics, College Year in Athens shines! Especially because they have some of the greatest professors in the social science realm of studies. Not a heavy course load but one always needs to make sure they do the work and pay attention, like any class.
The living arrangements were not the best but they also weren’t the worst. One has the option to live with a host family or live in an apartment with other individuals. Everything you need is in the apartment and if it isn't there you can request something. Also, the staff was extremely nice and responded quickly if there were any issues that had arisen within our apartment.
I cannot say better things about the director and the program staff, they are absolutely incredible. During my time in Athens, they were extremely helpful, attentive, and focused on each student’s own needs in order to succeed. I enjoyed working with Nadia, she was helpful in assisting me in attaining my internship with the refugee center.
I absolutely enjoyed my internship at Caritas Hellas, the refugee center located in Athens. I was able to connect with all types of individuals on an extremely personal level. I was in a different country surrounded by people from various different backgrounds and beliefs, yet for some reason I felt a connection with each and every one of them. I am so thankful I was able to assist the little time that I was at the refugee center. I will never forget my time there, the people I interacted with, and the way I felt when I was there. This internship was unique because I actually felt that I was making a difference, even though it was small. I worked a lot in the women’s clothing center and I was lucky to meet so many women that came from so many different places. I would assist them in choosing clothes that they needed for themselves and for their children, they had a total of 10 minutes to do so and some of them had at least 5 children, it was complicated but when we were able to find a coat for them or clothes that was the perfect fit they would break down in tears and give us all hugs. They were so thankful for something as simple as a coat, that was when it hit me and realized I had taken many things for granted. Working at the refugee center changed and further developed my perspective of myself and the world around me. Reflecting back on my experience, I would do it again in a heartbeat.

Studying abroad is a terrifying yet exhilarating thing to do, but believe me when I say that every waking moment was worth it. I can't say much for other countries, but I know for a fact that Greece is such a wonderful place to live. The people are warm and welcoming, helping your time there become 1000 times better not because that's their goal, but because that's who they are.
Now CYA goes above and beyond to make your experience abroad one full of new experiences and memories. Between the mandatory trips we took around Greece, and the on site classes, CYA really tried to make sure we enjoyed as much of Greece as we possibly could.

CYA was amazing. The neighborhood was perfect and there was always something to do. Night life is so fun! Nadia always sent out a weekly news letter with events around town which was soooo helpful and Jennifer was always ready to find something for you! There is so much to see and explore. Greeks are so welcoming and they have a way of making you feel as though you never left home. I was so nervous at first and extremely home-sick at one point but its all a part of the process and it did not last forever. I wouldn't change anything about my experiences or how I felt because everything fell into place. This experience was life-changing and I can't wait to go back! Home-stay was great and not very far and the farmer's market was the best part along with the waffles from Poco Poco <3. The field trips were very hands on and you get to learn about ancient Greece. The islands were so beautiful and you really get an opportunity to travel that you could not get anywhere else. The staff were passionate about the sites which made it more interesting and not so boring. Overall, CYA is a must! Get ready for the best gyros, waffle ice-cream, and tons of coffee! Also, be ready to party!

Many students worry about remaining foreigners while abroad, which was the case for some of my friends studying abroad in other countries. However, CYA does everything it can to foster a strong community and help students immerse themselves in Greek culture. They recommend various internships and volunteer positions, organize a greek cooking class, bring in local marble artists, send emails about a lot of fun events in Athens, and the staff gives great recommendations on places to see and things to do. Everyone is very approachable and genuinely cares about helping the students have amazing experiences abroad.

In order to further help students gain an understanding of Greece's rich history and culture, there are three mandatory field trips to various parts of Greece. These trips provide wonderful opportunities to see more of the beautiful country, try local delicacies and see regional customs. It is also a great experiences for students to get to know each other and some of their professors better as they spend the trip mainly with one assigned group and professor. I got to see so many famous archaeological sites and museums, like Delphi and the Palace of Knossos, while learning about them from very knowledgable professors.

Many classes in Athens are taught on site or take field trips. I loved spending so much time at the Acropolis, going to museums like the Jewish Museum, going to a Monastery, and walking around parts of the city, all for class. I learned more about and how to navigate more of Athens than I ever thought I would through these classes, and I am very grateful that.

It was an all around amazing semester, and I loved the free and delicious lunch that was served every week day, which was a great time to meet up with friends. I know some of the friendships I formed with other students and a couple of Athenians will last a lifetime.

My experience abroad in Greece with CYA has been nothing short of wonderful. I chose CYA's program because of the experiential, hands-on learning that it claimed to provide, and I was not disappointed. All of their professors were experts in their field, and they accompanied us to off-site classes, and even week-long field trips; their lectures on-site truly enhanced the learning experience. Being able to see everything we were learning about in person was truly a game-changer. Not only was it a great place to grow academically, CYA also encourages you to fully understand Greek culture, giving out recommendations for activities to do and places to go. They will help you find opportunities for things you are interested in, whether it be sports, volunteering, or marble carving. My experience here has been fulfilling and CYA has helped facilitate that.

I truly had the best experience in Greece that I could have wanted. I got to learn about Greece's history, politics, and philosophy, and from those who were experts in their fields. I had class at the Acropolis, the Palace of Knossos, Aristotle's Prison, and the Ancient Agora. Can many other college kids say that had that opportunity??

The best part about CYA is how encouraging the people are. Greek people are so incredibly friendly, and will do anything to make you feel like you are at home. CYA takes that to a whole new level. From the cleaning staff, to the professors, to the administrators, CYA makes you feel like you are part of a big family. The professors are passionate about what they teach, which makes you passionate about learning the material. It doesn't even feel like school work!

I got to travel all around Greece, and all around Europe. I got to see places that I never would have seen if I were traveling on my own. Greece is a beautiful country, and I am so glad that CYA gave me the opportunity to experience all of it. I am so beyond grateful to this program!

Whenever I asked anyone how their experience abroad was, I received the same phrases every time: "amazing!" "completely life changing!" "best four months of my life!" I boarded the plane to Athens, Greece, nervous and unsure about what to expect from CYA– but safe to say the experience fulfilled every single expectation I had. When I returned, I was the one using all those cliché phrases to describe my time abroad, and meaning every single one of them.

The best part of CYA is the people. I love that they draw from colleges all over the US, it allowed me to make some truly amazing friends and greatly helped the adjustment to a new country as we were all figuring it out together. The professors and staff were unparalleled as well. They truly cared greatly about the students and went out of their way to help us find activities and new things to experience. One of my professors invited our class over for a traditional Greek meal at his apartment. Not only were we able to see a different neighborhood of Athens with stunning sweeping views of the city, but it was wonderful to experience that one of a kind Greek hospitality firsthand through sharing a meal with friends. None of my professors at my home institution have ever opened their home up to us like this.

The academic aspect of the program is outstanding due to the integration of on site classes and field trips!! My archeology class often was held on top of the acropolis! The field trips to Crete, Delphi, and the Peloponnese were my favorite aspects of the program. You are never going to experience learning this way anywhere else!

I recommend this program to anyone. It's a stunningly beautiful country with a true sense of hospitality. I left Greece with a greater appreciation for life, newfound confidence and independence, and some life-long friendships. It's an experience that will stay with you forever.