Semester of a Lifetime

As a half-greek American with familial roots in Greece, this was my first time visiting the country and I was not disappointed. Greece is the most beautiful place I have ever visited with fresh food, rich culture, and beautiful mountains and beaches. While CYA prepares you to adapt to Greek culture and life, they also give you a fair amount of independence to explore on your own. With classes only Monday through Thursday, you are given three day weekends to roam around Athens or travel elsewhere. You also live in apartments among Greek locals which truly gives you an authentic Greek experience. These apartments are in an ideal location, only about a 15 minute walk from the Acropolis and great restaurants. In terms of the academic side of things, the courses were a bit of a lighter load than my home college and were much more hands-on. A lot of my classes took trips to museums or did field study in surrounding neighborhoods. We also went on three field study trips: one to Delphi, one to Southern Greece, and one to Northern Greece. These trips were by far my favorite experience because I got to learn more about Greece's history while getting to see different villages and cities all around the country. Overall, I could talk about my experience in Athens for hours (which makes writing a short review difficult!) Studying abroad through CYA taught me how to be more independent, mature, confident, and to take authority when needed. As a first-generation student, this was my first time traveling out of the country and I feel much more comfortable and assured after traveling to Greece through CYA. Leaving this program, I have lasting connections with professors, faculty, and even locals from my time spent in Athens.