Study abroad in Athens, Greece and you won't regret it!

My time studying in Athens was unparalleled. At first, the environment seemed hostile and unwelcoming, but that all comes with the sole purpose of studying across the world; these things that are foreign to you soon start to feel like home. The small, uneven sidewalks, the fact that pedestrians don't have the right of way, and the hospitality culture are all different from what I experienced in America, but I got used to them as time went on. One thing I loved was the liveliness of downtown Athens, which was only a 20-minute metro ride from my campus building. I was lucky enough to experience parts of the bustling city as well as the peace of Agia Paraskevi, where my school was located. I loved that my program offered things that both abroad and local students could participate in, like pottery classes or intramural sports. My program also allowed us to immerse ourselves in the history of Athens through tours of the Parthenon, the Acropolis, and overnight trips to Meteora with fellow abroad students. One minor thing I wasn't expecting was the amount of money I would spend on laundry. I ended up spending almost 8 euros on one load of laundry, and even sometimes had to hang dry my clothes (this was expected, going to Europe, but I didn't know it would cost so much). A pro of my living situation was how the buildings were somewhat newly renovated and came fully stocked with most kitchen utensils and things we needed. The rooms and living spaces were fairly spacious; however, you will most likely be sleeping in a bunk bed, whether you have a shared room or a single. Grocery stores, pharmacies, and many other essential local amenities are all within a 5-minute walk from student housing. I visited my favorite coffee shop, Dimellos, every morning on my walk to class and quickly became friends with the store owner. Everyone is so friendly, and I always saw a familiar face, whether it was walking to class or out at night, and it fostered a sense of community. Travelling was made easy and became second nature the more you did it. These are some things that made my time abroad so memorable, and if you are unsure where to study, you should consider Athens, Greece, as it was not originally an option for me, but now I see it as my second home.