Past Review

By (Pre-Modern History, Barnard College) for

CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
My study abroad experience was definitely worthwhile. I made many great friends from all different backgrounds (two of my best friends were a biochem major and a finance major). I almost feel as if I am an honorary Greek. I learned the importance of taking time to smell the flowers, essentially, and that Greeks do what they want when they want. It's an interesting concept when applied to an entire country.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months
The term and year this program took place: Spring 2010

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The instructors were all experts in their respective fields. My Greek language teacher actually wrote the textbook and my Art and Archeology professor is well-known for her archaeological work as well as lurked on her parents' archaeological sites from the time she was a toddler. The teaching style was similar to Barnard's.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

They were essential in helping with the student visas/residency requirements and told us exactly what we were supposed to do and compiled all the necessary paperwork and helped us through the doctor's appointments, etc.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was in Pagrati, about a 7 minute walk from the Academic Building in an apartment with Greek residents. <br /><br /> I lived with three other girls from my program but the rest of the building was entirely Greek. We needed to provide linens, towels, etc. The institution provided basic cookware.

* Food:

Greek food, while many think it's bland, is amazing. There are many tavernas in both Kolonaki and Pagrati. There's an all-you-can-eat taverna right behind the Marble Stadium.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

There were very few non-academic events and such that my program facilitated (they tried but most fell through). It was a very social program, just outside of the institution.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

* Safety:

During a particularly rough riot, CYA texted all of us to ensure that we were safe and called most of us and, if they couldn't reach us, called our roommates to see if they could get in touch with us to ensure we were all safe. Be mindful of your wallets/passports/valuables on public transportation. CYA would help file claims of stolen goods with the police. My apartment had an accidental fire one night and CYA sent someone down almost immediately who served as our liaison with the super and the fire department.

If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? Yes

Finances

* Money: How easily were you able to live on a student's budget?

(1 = not very easy/$200+ on food & personal expenses/week, 2.5 = $100/week, 5 = very easily/minimal cost)

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I usually took about 250 euro out of the ATM about every 2.5 weeks. You can get by on less than 5 euro a week, though. I've seen it done before!
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? The visa process is especially pricey, but unavoidable. I traveled a lot so that took up a lot of my money.

Language

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? N/A. I took Latin to fulfill the language requirement.
If applicable, to what degree did your living situation aid your language acquisition?

Language acquisition improvement?

Definitely try to speak the language as much as possible. Especially in Greece, if you tell people you are studying the Greek Language, they'll actually try to help you with it and not look at you as if you were crazy while you stutter through your sentences. However, in Greece, most everyone speaks at least a little English and Greek is a very expressive language, so it can be fairly easy to interact with people using only English.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Other
  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans

A Look Back

* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Figure out what you want out of the program before you go then re-assess when you get there. Try to travel as much as you can (when else are you going to get to Egypt or Turkey?!), but BE FLEXIBLE.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Ancient Macedon to the Death of Alexander the Great

Course Department: H356
Instructor: John Karavas
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Very in-depth course. We had a five-day study travel to ancient Macedon. Karavas is an expert in his field and always well-prepared.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Ancient Aegean Art and Archaeology

Course Department: A331
Instructor: Nicola Wardle
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Great course--made use of everything Athens had to offer from the National Archaeological museum, to the Acropolis, and from the Agora to the Kerameikos.
Credit Transfer Issues: No
Course Name/Rating:

Ancient Greek Myth and Religion

Course Department: R332
Instructor: Nicola Wardle
Instruction Language: English
Comments: This course wasn't as challenging for me as I already knew a lot of Greek mythology. We went on field trips to local museums. Nicola used her experience growing up in a little Greek village to give us a taste of how modern Greek religion was influenced by ancient Greek religion.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Ancient Greek Athletics

Course Department: H355
Instructor: Nigel Kennell
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Nigel was very knowledgeable about the subject matter and went very in depth with all that we studied. On a 5-day study travel to the Peloponnese, we were able to see sites for the ancient games which greatly enhanced the material we were learning in class.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.
Course Name/Rating:

Modern Greek

Course Department: M101
Instructor: Marinetta Papahimona
Instruction Language: Greek/English
Comments: I haven't taken any modern-language courses, but this course was amazing if only because Marinetta was my instructor. I learned a ton. This course met every day but I never dreaded it because I knew it would be interesting if nothing else.
Credit Transfer Issues: No.