An Experience I'll Never Forget! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I learned more in this course than I have in any previous archaeology/art history course I've taken. Learning was so much more effective for me being able to actually see the artifacts and archaeological sites we were learning about. My professor was highly knowledgeable in the class topic and all the activities we did inside and outside of the classroom gave me a deeper understanding of the Mediterranean Bronze Age, in terms of both art and daily life.

On-site administration of your program

The academic building had a front desk and there was always staff to help you with whatever you need. There were administrators whose specialization was not just academics, but also other aspects of study abroad that other programs may not have: there was someone to help with cultural adjustments with study abroad, social activities, on-site facilities (cafeteria, laundry, library), and academic assistance.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We stayed in an apartment very close to the academic building, in the heart of Athens, and I had my own room and only shared a bathroom with four other girls. The rooms were spacious, there was plenty of room and storage, and its proximity to everything was fantastic.

I ate out mostly, and I only ate at the CYA cafeteria 1/3 of the time due to our travel throughout Greece. The food was decent, but they only provide food for lunch while you're in Athens, and it's nothing life-changing. I was tempted to eat elsewhere, most days. The best part was its convenience and proximity to the academic center.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

If I had taken a longer program I feel like I would have felt more integrated in the local culture, but for the time I had I feel like I learned quite a bit about the local culture and met my fair amount of locals. I became a regular at a few coffee shops and bakeries, learned about local cuisine, and learned some Greek along with what I learned in my class.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I never had an experience with healthcare, but there were pharmacies on every corner in the neighborhood we lived in. I needed no specific vaccines other than what I already required through my home institutions.

I never once fell unsafe in Athens, nor in the other cities my class traveled to. Greece is a very safe country, from what I experienced, and i was never a victim of a crime. The only thing that could potential happen in Athens is having your wallet stolen, but no one in my class nor I ever had that happen. Using simple travel safety, as you would anywhere else, is all you need. Keep your things secured when traveling and don't leave money lying around and you'll be fine.

I have a strong interest in the ancient world, and this course gave me further insight and allowed me to see the artifacts and sites I've always learned about. From the people in my course to the places we went (including Santorini and Crete) to the academic content, everything was essentially perfect with this course for me.

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

Some meals are as cheap as 2 euro, others are more expensive. I was able to keep costs down by having cheap gyros for dinner ever so often, but overall Greece is very affordable right now no matter where you go. You just have to balance your nicer going out meals with cheaper fast food. There was a variety of options in my neighborhood in Athens.

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• Apartment
• Hotel

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• Americans
• International Students

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• Americans
• International Students

• Affordability
• Traveling
• Academics

• Local immersion
• Academic center cafeteria