It was an unforgettable adventure! January 04, 2022

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The classes were not too difficult, however do to the amount of travel included in the program, being able to time manage assignments with trips is really important

On-site administration of your program

I would rate this as good, however you do need to find the right person to speak to for specific problems as some staff members speak better english than others. The send out many email updates frequently and have good response time.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Our individual bedrooms were wonderful, however we did have our fridge leak water at least once a month, and even more frequently towards the end of the semester. Additionally the stove, kitchen and living rooms were really small. I enjoyed our location very much as it was near the grocery store and easy to get to class. Additionally, not a whole lot could be cooked, and it was difficult to seat all four of us for a group meals. In our day to day, this wasn't much of a problem though :) The maintenance man did come and fix stuff for us, so there is help readily available if anything major comes up.

Some meals are better than others but there is plenty of it and the lunch staff is very nice and do try to accommodate our preferences. I wasn't used to eating a lot of meat at home, and every meal served has some sort of meat or fish in it. I opted to get the vegetarian options and that helped a lot. There are quite a few meals (especially the vegetarian ones) that include eggplant, so if you don't like eggplant (like me) that might be an issue. This said there is plenty of food outside of CYA and its easy to make food in the apartment to eat instead.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very immersed in the culture, but as an African American student I was stared at, and as a woman, often traveling in a group of women, I was stared at or asked where I was from by locals the entire semester. Places I frequented did come to know me well (like coffee shops or grocery stores) and places in and around CYA do expect to see students in the area. Encounters with shop owners might included questions like "where are you from?" or "what are you doing in Greece?" but are often well meaning and lead to friendly conversation! This said being approached by strangers and asked questions is an uncomfortable reality of being as student at CYA something to be prepared for.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any health issues while I was abroad so I really didn't interact with the health staff much much but from what I saw they did a good job. Knowing that pharmacies were readily available, and that I could get regular COVID tests was helpful. In addition there was monthly mental health services provided, however I think more frequent visits could have been beneficial.

I felt VERY safe in Athens! Athens locals operate on a different timeline than the United States so things are open much later and people eat lunch and dinner later at night. I felt very safe traveling in a group when it was dark and never had any issues with feeling safe in my apartment. The only thing that made me uncomfortable encounters with men approaching me randomly and asking questions but I was told by staff to be rude and dismiss these people and didn't happen very often. I would recommend traveling with a least one other person always and practicing the usual safety precautions of city life. Be alert and try not to engage with strangers :)

I love CYA's location and the trips they provide. The staff was super nice and super helpful. The professors are amazing and are your window to Greek life and Greek culture! I loved this program and I know that they are working hard to fix and update things from year to year.

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

Trips, even just weekend trips end up costing at least a $100 for that week and there are several such trips. CYA provides breakfast, but breakfast is the most affordable meal in Greece as bakeries are really cheap. Purchasing lunch and dinner on trips makes living expenses much higher so students should be prepared for that. Also budget for expenses like fun city excursions (we went to an amusement park) or coffee shop study sessions! *these aren't necessary of course but they make the experience pretty fun!

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