CYA - Study in Greece (Summer Program)

I took the Diversity, Difference in Regionality Among Greek States and Interconnections in Bronze Age Aegean classes during the summer of 2022. I learned a lot about classical Greece and Bronze Age Aegean. My professors were funny, approachable, and caring. I enjoyed the 2 week long road/ferry trips. I would recommend this program and would encourage students to apply for scholarships from their school. Greece is pretty cheap compared to other European countries. Most people speak English, so it is pretty easy to get around.

I participated in CYA's summer session 1 of 2022 and enrolled in a travel writing course that was a month long. We spent half that time in Athens and the other half in Poros, with a stop in Nafplio along the way. This course was absolutely fantastic, my writing improved so much and I was able to pick up a decent amount of modern Greek. Katerina was a lovely professor, extremely kind and passionate about the subject and Greece in general. I made great friends and got to know Greece on a much deeper level. I highly recommend CYA's study abroad programs, it was a great mix of independent travel and professional support.

Athens is the perfect place for studying; everywhere you go there are different museums and historical sites, but also lots of food, shops, and other activities to do. Greece is a beautiful place full of friendly and welcoming people- I was lucky to make friends with some of the locals and found them all to be quite open-minded and helpful. I think that there is something about learning on-site (or at least within the same country/city), that you cannot re-create back home in the classroom. Overall, CYA did a great job of providing support and guidance for us students, yet at the same time gave us the room to be independent and explore on our own. If you choose to do this program I really recommend taking the time to go to one of the smaller islands on your breaks, but also don't forget to take in all that Athens has to offer itself!

I grew up in a relatively sheltered environment surrounded by people who thought and looked a lot like me. The first 18 years of my life were spent in the comfort of my own likeness. However, spending the summer at CYA allowed me to broaden my understanding of the world through the people I have met and the stories I have heard. This has been an incredibly important experience for me and has allowed me to adjust much of my perception of how we all fit into the places we inhabit. From this powerful experience abroad, I have learned the importance of exploration, as well as the ability to understand other points of view. I allowed myself to explore and say yes to things you wouldn't typically consider doing. This is how I ended up finding the best views or the coolest museums or the most fascinating islands to visit. It was truly an incredible summer.

I learned so much through this program and was able to have such unique experiences. Each weekend I traveled somewhere different amongst the islands or neighboring cities. It was easy to navigate and very affordable. The staff also was incredible and super resourceful. They were willing to go above and beyond to supper me. I loved being in Greece and this program set me up really well for an excellent time. The adventure mixed with history makes Athens the perfect launching point for understanding and experiencing Greek culture.

For four weeks in Summer 2021, I was able to take a class on the Anthropology of Food in Greece, taught by Aimee Placas (who is amazing!). The course, and Greece in general was amazing. I learned so much about food, traditions, culture, etc - and ate my way through 7 Greek islands as well (yum!). I'm missing the experience and the people I met along the way already.

I highly recommend taking the ferries from Athens (Pireaus) to islands like Aegina, Naxos, Poros, Paros, etc. Ikaria is another favorite - but fly there!

CYA gave me the opportunity for a trip that I never would have been able to plan or execute on my own. For four weeks in the summer of 2021, I took The Strangeness of Ancient Greece: Diversity, Difference and Regionality among the Greek States, taught by Professor Pitt. Living among locals, learning about the history of the country, eating great food, and traveling around Greece made my education feel tangible and real. Not only did CYA give me the opportunity to travel and learn, but they made the process accessible, easy, and fun the whole way through.

The best way to spend my summer! In June, I travelled with CYA to Athens and Poros for an unforgetable study abroad opportunity. Even with COVID restrictions, CYA did an amazing and safe job of providing an in-person travel opportunity. Through excellent curriculum and exceptional recommendations, I travelled around Greece to the fullest in four short weeks. I am already preparing to return to see more of the wonderful country. Thank you so much to my classmates and teachers who made the trip on that I will never forget!