Summer of Smiles Past Review
By Kim Johnson (University of Michigan - Ann Arbor) - abroad from 06/26/2017 to 07/22/2017 with
CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program
I learned so much about the Bronze Age, but also about myself.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | None |
Review Your Program
|
* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
|
|
* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
|
|
* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartments were very nice. The hotels had some issues, but overall they were always clean and comfortable. |
| * Food: |
CYA lunches were always nice and the food in Greek restaurants was always delicious and inexpensive! |
|
* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
Class didn't integrate us much with the modern culture, but just living in the city gave us a taste of the Greek lifestyle. |
|
* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
|
| * Safety: |
|
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I had the time of my life in CYA! I couldn't stop smiling the entire month I was in Greece. I made such fast, close friends and had the best time traveling around Greece with them. I was never bored because there was always either a CYA organized event or one that the students had come up with to do together. I learned so much in such a short amount of time because of my amazing professor and my ability to see what I was learning about first hand. We were rarely in the classroom which allowed for very interactive learning in the museums and at the sites. The food in Greece was also so yummy while still being extremely inexpensive so I was able to spend my money on fun experiences and activities instead of having to use it all for food. Overall, I'm thrilled I chose CYA and would go back in a heartbeat. |
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) |
Food in Greece was extremely cheap and sometimes even provided by CYA and almost everything else you needed was provided for you at the apartments or in the hotels. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | $75 |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
Other Program Information
|
* Where did you live?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you live with?
Select all that apply |
|
|
* Who did you take classes with?
Select all that apply |
|
| 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? |
|
| * What could be improved? |
|
| * What do you know now that you wish you knew before going on this program? | Get to know everyone in your class from the beginning! I made some close friends towards the end that I wish I had spent more time with from the start. |
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 UrbaniteA 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. |
