My kind of Greek life! Past Review

By (Chapman University) - abroad from 06/07/2012 to 06/27/2012 with

Study Abroad Programs in Greece

What did you gain/learn from your experience abroad? Was it worthwhile?
I gained classroom knowledge in my subject, photography, as well as experience from traveling. I got great at packing and walking long distances with lots of luggage. But mostly I learned about the variety that exists within the world. It was Greek to me, but I loved it.

Review Photos

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Personal Information

How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? 0-2 weeks

Review Your Program

* Overall educational experience

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

The academic rigor was very flexible, with the responsibility ultimately in the hands of each individual student. The staff was a great resource, friendly and knowledgeable about their trades and the local culture.

* Host Country Program Administration

On-site administration of your program

The entire staff was fun loving and willing to answer academic questions just as easily as they could hold a conversation about life on the island and the fun surrounding it.

* Housing:

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Jimmy's Apartments were clean, with daily maid service. The rooms included televisions, air conditioning, and personal balconies. They were what I wish the dorms in America could be like!

* Food:

The food in Greece was great, though I did miss variety. We often dined on greek salads, grilled chicken, and oh the gyros! Lots of veggies and lots of fresh squeezed juice <3

* Social & Cultural Integration:

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very accepted on the island as a student at HISA. Many of the local bars and restaurants knew us by name and offered us discounts. It was easy to make friends with locals at these venues, and we often did.

* Health Care:

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

While I didn't think much about health concerns in approaching this program, I was glad Athena made travel insurance and information available when I had an encounter with a sea urchin in the Aegean Sea! I was able to get transportation to and from a local, clean, private hospital without much fuss at all.

* Safety:

The safety on the island was pretty great! It's the capitol, Athens, where we stayed on either side of travelling that one has to be aware of. As long as your belongings are kept secure and close at all times, you should be fine. But stay on guard. No falling asleep on ferries with your backpack at your feet! And once you get to the island, be street smart to the extent you should be anywhere. Girls, use the buddy system. Stay alert and you'll be just fine.

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)

Travel here can be as pricey or as expensive as you so desire. The Greek equivalent of fast food, gyros, are cheap and delicious. And the farmer's markets make buying your own ingredients extremely affordable if you're willing to cook. Beyond that, Athena covered all inter-island travel, making the field trip expenses up to personal discretion. Activities like donkey rides and renting a beach lounge are dirt cheap while the opportunity to splurge on things like massages (at the spas in Santorini!) or boat tours is always an option.

* Was housing included in your program cost? Yes
* Was food included in your program cost? No
Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? I spent about $300/week on food and activities. But, I also had a blast, stayed busy doing tons of stuff and indulged in some fine dining. Remember to include a souvenir budget for your friends and family! :)
Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? Grocery shopping and cooking one's own food is an easy way to save, especially since the housing accomodations included small personal kitchens and a larger, communal one. Also, the boutique shopping is tempting but pricey.

Language

* Did your program have a foreign language component? No

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?

A Look Back

* What did you like most about the program?
  • swimming in the ocean
  • going out with friends
  • lots of laughs
* What could be improved?
  • classroom air conditioning
* What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? I really feel like Athena told me all they could in order to prepare me. But, from my own experience, I never could have guessed what great and lasting friendships I would make!

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.

Individual Course Reviews

Course Name/Rating:

Digital Imaging: Beginner

Course Department:
Instructor: Cameron
Instruction Language: English
Comments: While the condensed course meant a lot of information right off the bat, learning about photography was fun and the location was a beautiful grounds for practice. We took field trips and captured a variety of Greek locations and snippets of local life. Class was held less often than at home because almost every other day was full of adventure. We saw many different parts of the island on which we stayed as well as 5 other islands! We were assessed by our ability to use the photography concepts in our assignments and by peer critique.
Credit Transfer Issues: The credit for this summer course transferred seamlessly to my university transcript with a fee.