I Wish I Could Stay Here Forever! Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

I really enjoyed every class that I took at CYA. Many classes were taught on site at museums or other archaeological sites, which really helped me learn a lot! The professors are very easy to reach out too and the classes are very small, which helps students to be able to build more personal connections with the professors. Many of my professors also invited us to dinner at their homes or restaurants around the city, which was one of my favorite things about the program!

On-site administration of your program

All of the administrators care for each student and make an effort to get to know everyone, which was a welcome change for me, since I come from a bigger university.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

We were housed in apartments around the neighborhood that CYA is located in, Pangrati, and CYA's housing coordinator is always willing to help with any problems that arise. CYA sets up your housing arrangements in advance, which I found out from friends who studied elsewhere is not common, and it's included in the program fee. I really enjoyed living in CYA apartments.

CYA provided lunch Monday-Friday and it was delicious. It made it super easy to eat between classes as well. The food in Athens was amazing, and there are several places to eat delicious food around CYA (and it's all super cheap!)

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

I didn't have any experiences with healthcare in the country, but when I was sick, the administrators offered to bring my lunch to my apartment. I also had a friend who was very sick during the program, and our administrators helped her with doctors visits, visited her at home, and even arranged for a doctor to visit her at home. The administrators at CYA truly go above and beyond!

I felt extremely safe in Pangrati and Athens overall. Just be mindful of your belongings in the most touristy areas, as you should be anywhere.

I don't think I would have received the level of support from the staff with any other study abroad program. They truly go above and beyond in every aspect, from housing to just striking up casual conversation. I don't think I would have been able to make as many lasting friendships in any other program either. CYA is a relatively small program, so I was able to make so many friends that I still talk to and visit all over the country today!

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

Groceries and meals are very cheap in Athens, and CYA provides lunch Monday-Friday which reduces the amount of meals you're responsible for purchasing.

0 = No encouragement, 5 = frequent encouragement to use the language

The language courses I took were very helpful, and our professors taught us very practical things which made it easier to use the language throughout the city, which we were encouraged to do as much as we could. Also, if you really work on using the language in everyday life, it helps a lot in retaining what is learned in the language courses.

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• Apartment

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• Americans

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• Americans

• The staff
• On-site classes and field trips
• The food

• More support/info with residence permits (for full-year students)

The Avid Adventurer