Abroad101: Study Abroad Reviews

I learned about a new, exciting, and interesting culture Past Review

By (HISTORY., Middlebury College) - abroad from 09/02/2012 to 12/21/2012 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
It was worthwhile and I learned a lot about myself.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 1 month - 6 months

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

It was not very academically rigorous compared to my home institution.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Well organized and very helpful for traveling and local events

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Apartments eventually felt like home but werent large or luxurious by any means, it was comfortable but only for a semester.

* Food:

Program food was ok but the local food in Athens, which wasnt too expensive, was delicious and probably something I miss the most.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

People knew I was American but they were very excepting and the program, as well as the locals, tried hard to teach me about their culture and their history.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Several members of my program did need healthcare and even urgent healthcare and the program responded quickly and well to ensure that everyone was cared for and healthy.

* Safety:

Neighborhood and apartments felts safe and there were no problems. They brief you on what areas to avoid and keep your wits about you especially around large gatherings or protests. Overall though I had no safety concerns.

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)

Plenty of cheap food and necessary things but if you are willing to spend more there are good restaurants and places to go.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? 50-100 euros
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? If money is an issue don't go out often or try to eat out. Plenty of local supplies for cheap to make your own food. All museums and ancient sites are free for students so academically you dont need to cut spending.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? Yes
How much did the program encourage you to use the language?

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

I took modern Greek but it wasnt required for all students.

How would you rate your language skills at the beginning of the program? None
How would you rate your language skills at the end of the program? Intermediate
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? For greek no experience, but I took six years of French and took AP courses in that.
How many hours per day did you use the language?
Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? Practice with other modern greek students and ask locals or other professors for help.

Other Program Information

* Where did you live?

Select all that apply

  • Apartment
* Who did you live with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
* Who did you take classes with?

Select all that apply

  • Americans
About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? 0

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • The location
  • The food
  • The encouragement to participate locally
* What could be improved?
  • The academics
  • The housing
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? That the semester would go by so quickly, wished I had been more proactive on a few occasions.

Reasons For Studying Abroad

To help future students find programs attended by like-minded individuals, please choose the profile that most closely represents you.
The Outright Urbanite
A social butterfly, you're happiest in bustling cities with hip people, and took advantage of all it had to offer. You enjoyed the nightlife, and had fun going out dancing, and socializing with friends. Fun-loving and dressed to the nines, you enjoyed discovering new restaurants, shops, cafes, and bars in your host country.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Ancient Archeology and Architecture

Course Department:
Instructor: Prof. Steve Diamant
Instruction Language: English
Comments: Somewhat challenging but very informative especially given the onsite trips and first hand experiences
Credit Transfer Issues: No problems except with getting Minor credit, review with department before going abroad.
Course Name/Rating:

Ancient Greek Religion and Mythology
Course Department:
Instructor: Professor Anne Stewart
Instruction Language:
Comments: Very interesting but not hard at all in comparison to home institution. I enjoyed the class but did not have to do much in terms of work or attempt at understanding.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Culture and Ethnography
Course Department:
Instructor: Prof. Aimee Placas
Instruction Language:
Comments: Very interesting but not very challenging. Well organized and made learning about Greek Culture more insightful but not very rigorous at all.
Credit Transfer Issues:
Course Name/Rating:

Modern Greek
Course Department:
Instructor: Marienetta Papahimona
Instruction Language:
Comments: Not very hard in terms of academics but it was difficult because it is a new language not very similar to English or any Western language. Teacher was good and I feel comfortable speaking some Greek but it wasnt very challenging.
Credit Transfer Issues: