Semester in Athens, Greece Past Review

By (Wellesley College) - abroad from 01/25/2016 to 05/20/2016 with

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

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
Really got to travel around the city and country to different sites both through the program/classes and on my own.

Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 2 weeks - 1 month

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

Professors are wonderful and passionate. I found my overall course load to be lighter than my home institution. However, this was replaced with onsite learning and experiences one simply cannot gain from a textbook.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

Always helpful and understanding with any problems that arose.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

I was in a three bedroom apartment, one bathroom with four other girls. It was a bit cramped but the location was fantastic. Wonderful neighborhood, pleasant neighbors.

* Food:

Loved the lunches that CYA provided. However, wish there was a stipend provided by my college so that I could purchase food for breakfast and dinner.

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

Lived in the middle of Greek culture. Could have been more programmed events with other local university students. Overall, it was what you make of it in terms of reaching out to the locals which was very easily done.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I had no issues this semester and only heard of good experiences.

* Safety:

College and housing were located in a safe neighborhood. Emails were sent in case of any protests or social unrest.

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

ABSOLUTELY. One of the best decisions I made in college.

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)

Many people traveled on weekends which eats up a lot of money for housing, eating out, etc. Greece is extremely affordable for students. I probably spend about $50 on groceries, $20 eating out, then $30 for other activities (going out, transportation). There honestly wasn't much of a price difference from eating out and preparing my own meals but I did enjoy making meals in the kitchen. Most of my expenses came from traveling outside of Greece.

Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? ~$100
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Decided how much you can travel ahead of time (once a month, just during breaks) and plan/budget your trips. Try to avoid those last "oops" expenses that result in having to take taxis, etc.

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

Not everyone took Modern Greek so we were not that encouraged but they would speak to us in Greek if we tried to communicate with our little understanding of the language.

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? Beginner
What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? None
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? Be willing to make mistakes and talk to locals even if they speak to you in English.

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?
  • Travel opportunities
  • Location of school and apartments
  • Onsite classes
* What could be improved?
  • Less crowded housing
  • Not having to get an international phone/number
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? Expect to learn in a different way. Instead of spending time in the library, spend time walking around and taking in the visual cues that the city provides.

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 Avid Adventurer
The wardrobe you packed was better suited for a semester of camping than club hopping. Outdoorsy, you might forgo a crazy night out for an early all-day adventure. You'd rather take in the rich culture of an old town than the metropolis of a modern city, but for you getting off the grid is ideal.