My CYA Experience Past Review
By Cara Johnson (Gettysburg College) - abroad from 08/27/2017 to 12/15/2017 with
CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program
It was so worthwhile! I gained amazing friendships. I matured a lot by being on my own in a foreign place. I learned how to compromise and to go with the flow through living with strangers and dealing with things beyond my control, such as lack of transportation from political demonstrations.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 2 weeks - 1 month |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
CYA prepared me so well by helping me complete all the necessary documents needed to study abroad. They set up transportation from the airport upon my arrival which made me feel so welcomed. The apartments were in a perfect location in the city, being in the same neighborhood as the Panhellenic Stadium and a short walk from the Acropolis and other ruins. The program field trips allowed me to see historical and archaeological sites I never would have dreamed I'd visit. The close-knit feel of this program prevented me from feeling homesick the whole semester I was there, and now being back in the states, I feel homesick from Athens! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
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| * Food: |
The lunch they provided was always enjoyable with vegan and vegetarian options. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
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| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
Greece itself was an amazing place to be and CYA was a huge impact on making me feel this way. |
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? | $30 |
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 |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Use it with the locals as much as you can! They love that students try to communicate with them in their own language and it's very respectful to try, even if you make a mistake (which I did way more than once). The best way to improve your language skills is to use them in conversation! |
Other Program Information
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* Where did you live?
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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 knew the best and most popular places of the city, although discovering them on my own made me learn a lot about the city. |
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. |
