A year I didn't want to ever end! Past Review
By Jamie Dawes (Emory University) - abroad from 08/29/2016 to 05/22/2017 with
CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program
I think it was one of the best years of my life. I made lifelong friends from the program and a lifelong love for the country. Feels like a second home and I can't wait to go back!
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
The classes were diverse and interesting, many of them took place on site! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Helpful, responsive, and always interested in what we were doing |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
Housing was close to the program and the city center |
| * Food: |
Probably the best food I've ever had |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
How could you not feel integrated when you lived in a Greek neighborhood and everything was either a walk or metro ride away? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
From my experience, I was helped efficiently |
| * Safety: |
I never worried about anything more violent than pick pocketing, which even being aware of your belongings one can avoid, and we were always notified of any demonstrations in the city |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
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Finances
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* 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) |
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| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | 60-80 euros |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Cook for yourself, take advantage of farmer's markets, find your favorite souvlaki place! |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | Yes |
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How much did the program encourage you to use the language?
0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language |
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| 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? | no course prior |
| 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? | Speak! Don't be embarrassed- most Greeks will even help you |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
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* Who did you live with?
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* Who did you take classes with?
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| About how many local friends did you make that you will likely keep in touch with? |
A Look Back
| * What did you like most about the program? |
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| * What could be improved? |
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| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | I wish I'd known to be a little less uptight about expenses, because it was all worth it in the end, and to speak Greek all the time, even poorly, because that would be the only way to improve! |
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 Academic or LinguistYou went abroad with specific academic goals in mind; the program credentials and rigor of your coursework abroad were very important to you. You had a great time abroad, but never lost sight of your studies and (if applicable) were diligent with your foreign language study. Good for you! |
