CYA - Study in Greece (Semester Program)

One piece of advice that I would give to someone going abroad, in general, and specifically in Greece, is that learning the basics of the native language is essential for a fully immersive study abroad. I had absolutely no experience with Greek and took a basic level of Greek language and culture class at CYA.

While I have always had trouble and anxiety surrounding language-learning, I loved my professor at CYA and felt so comfortable practicing my Greek in her classroom and in my neighborhood. Almost everyone in Athens can communicate with you in English, but whenever I at least attempted to use my Greek, I found that people were far more receptive to me. Learning and practicing Greek helped me make connections with locals because people were so excited to understand why I was learning the language and almost always offered to help me with my homework (whether I asked or not).

Learning the language is both a sign of respect and an extremely helpful tool in battling a sense of isolation in a new culture.

An average week is different for everyone. I did have some regularity to my schedule, but often enjoyed not knowing how my days would end up.

In the mornings, I would always go to the local gym about a half-mile up the street, shower and then go to class. I would have program-provided lunch between classes and then head to one of my three favorite neighborhood coffee shop. Coffee culture in Greece is huge (I went to a coffee shop on average once to twice a day). I would then spend my evenings with friends by going to dinner, going out in other parts of Athens, or exploring the tourist/local parts of the city.

I would have classes from Monday-Thursday and would spend most weekends either traveling around Greece or taking a few side trips to other countries.

One of my biggest fears about going abroad was that I would feel completely isolated from my environment and that I would shut down and miss out on important experiences.

I overcame this fear by both challenging myself to get out of my comfort zone while also cutting myself slack by taking time to myself when I needed it. Small moments of bravery led to some of the most impactful experiences: trying out Greek with someone I don't know, intentionally getting lost in a new neighborhood, volunteering with a local organization. Yet, it was also so important for me to recognize that it is ok to need alone time and that designated alone time can actually help lessen a sense of isolation.

I learned so much by simply observing my surroundings at coffee shops alone and going for daily runs around the historical sites and natural landscapes.

In short, remember to take a breath and find a contact where you are to mediate the situation. As long as you are in no immediate danger, you truly are ok. Take everything as an experience in and of itself.

When I was in Crete, a massive storm hit the island and my friends and I found ourselves stuck on the island for two days longer than intended. It was initially extremely stressful to figure out how to handle delayed and canceled flights in a foreign language and unfamiliar place. Yet, after we took a deep breath, my friends and I found that Aegean Airlines was more than willing to pay for our hotels, food, and transportation.

When my friend became sick in Athens, another friend and I took her to the hospital. We were all overwhelmed by the unfamiliarity of the procedures in Greek hospitals, but called our program and had them translate for us. It's ok to ask questions and to ask for help!

When I lived in Greece, two of my friends in my program were graduates of College Year in Athens (CYA). They spoke so highly of the program and experience living in Greece and they had such a love of Greece that they returned to live in Greece again! That planted the seed for me knowing how highly the CYA students felt and spoke about their experience!

It's hard to choose from the great options. Greece overall is breathtaking, so opportunities to explore and experience the country through the field study or optional trips are amazing experiences. There are so many wonderful courses that I would also love to take! You also can't beat soaking up the sun in Greece during the summer program!

CYA was established in 1962 and it's the first study abroad program in Greece for English-speaking undergraduates!

Athens, Greece is an epicenter of history and culture, so living and studying in Athens is a unique experience that offers so much in the vibrant city with delicious eats. In our North American office, the team works hard to support the application process, relationships with Universities and preparations for students getting to Greece! I'm proud of all the efforts the team makes to make the CYA experience possible.

Success can be measured in so many ways. In my opinion, being student-centered is the biggest factor in the success of a study abroad company! Having support, resources and ultimately an engaging dynamic experience for students is what makes for success.

CYA goes above and beyond to support students and I feel that's essential for success.