Fulfilled every cliché!

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.