CYA - Study in Greece (Winter/ J-Term Program)

I knew I always wanted to study abroad and honestly College year in Athens could not have made it better. First of all size of people there felt perfect. It wasn't too small where you knew everyone but it wasn't so big where no one knew anyone. The teachers and staff in general were so helpful and really were there for you. I have never had better relationships with my professors before in my college experience. The trips that they took you on were so fun and even when we had to listen to talks, they were really interesting and made it fun. The housing and cleaning was amazing. The area you live in is not super touristy so you feel like you're in another country, and submerged in the culture! The friends I met there are some of the best people I have ever met in my life. I look back on the experience I've had and honestly see it as unforgettable.

This was truly one of the most interesting and exciting programs I have ever been on. College Year in Athens is dedicated to teaching students in a way that gets them out of the classroom and into the world around them. This three week long winter program is a great way to familiarize oneself with the fundamentals of an archaeological excavation and meet people with similar interests. Work in the field is supplemented by short trips to other archaeological sites in the surrounding area, as well as to the Acropolis of Athens. Professor Karavas is one of the most knowledgeable professors in the field and is able to draw on his experiences at his own dig site to provide students with a world-class and one of a kind experience.

CYA's "Anthropology of the City: Exploring Modern Athens" winter term class was one of my favorite classes I have ever taken. Classes rarely took place in the physical classroom - instead CYA took full advantage of its convenient location in the heart of the city and sent us out with our professor to explore it. We analyzed different spaces all over the city from neighborhood farmers markets and shopping malls, to street art in political neighborhoods and even Greek nightlife in one of Athens’ party districts. This class is the perfect blend of academics with fun and adventure, and taught me that there isn’t a single space in the city that can’t be the site of interesting anthropological research. This class would appeal to students with a wide variety of interests, including not only Anthropology but also Urban Studies, Sociology, Political Science, Architecture - or simply anyone interested in learning about what life in Athens is like. As someone who spent winter term and the following semester with CYA, this class was the perfect introduction to my time in Athens and the lessons I learned from it about Greek culture and what it meant to be an Athenian were invaluable to me. The Anthropology of the City class fits a lot of material and adventures into a short period of time, so even if you are not staying for the semester, I guarantee you will still get a lot out of this short but sweet study abroad experience with CYA.