Learning to Find Myself June 01, 2024
By A student (Biological Sciences, Cornell University) - abroad from 01/22/2024 to 05/18/2024 with
CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program
I learned that life should be taken in stride. We are so stressed and anxious about problems in our lives that we forget what it means to live. We forget that joy of existence, the potential. I learned to look at people as inherently good who can be misguided by their daily stressors. Once those stressors are removed, people can be their most authentic, kind, and open selves.
Personal Information
| How much international exposure did you have prior to this program? | 1 month - 6 months |
Review Your Program
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* Overall educational experience
Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc. |
My experience with the coursework was one of little intensity and one that demanded manageable academic rigor. I never found myself burdened or overcome by the amount of work I had been assigned. The most work I had was related to my study of Modern Greek and Ancient Greek Myth, which was mostly reading. If you manage your time well it shouldn't be too difficult to handle. |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
The administration, teachers, and staff acted courteously and with compassion. They are patient and willing to work with you on difficult topics or issues related to housing, food, etc. |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
My housing was excellent. I shared an apartment with three other guys who were the best to be around. The cleaning staff came weekly and cleaned the apartment very thoroughly. We only had to take care of our own belongings and used kitchenware. We had some minor issues with the shower draining and a loose faucet, but nothing noteworthy. |
| * Food: |
The cafeteria serves up great food to the students. A lot of the dishes are inspired by local Greek cuisine and are both filling and tasty. Most of the main dishes had meat, but there was always a vegetarian option available to those that requested it. According to what I heard from other students, they were also very accommodating to other dietary restrictions. |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
After the first two weeks, I felt quite integrated and comfortable in Athens. The teachers I had were almost all Greeks, and those that weren't were fluent in Greek and lived in the country for years prior. After getting situated in my apartment, I also tried local bars and outdoor activities and met locals that way. Everyone was very accepting and inquisitive about my background, reasons for visiting, etc. Greek people are very social, so it's quite accepted to meet people and hang out during the week and weekend! |
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* Health Care:
How well were health issues addressed during the program? |
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| * Safety: |
Speaking from the perspective of a non-disabled man, Athens felt very safe and accessible. There are police present in most places nearby CYA (especially because the Parliament and Presidential Mansion are nearby). Most places nearby are well-lit and the city is very active into the night, so there is almost always foot traffic on the sidewalks. |
| If you could do it all over again would you choose the same program? |
Yes
I met amazing teachers, made long-lasting friendships, and learned so much about a culture I had minimal knowledge about going in. I was supported the entire time, and felt safe exploring and growing independently. I'll miss this experience, more so than I could describe in words, but I'm glad I had the time that I did. |
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) |
Greek has very inexpensive food, even for those wishing to eat out at restaurants or tavernas. Staples, like rice, bread, and beans are very cheap and can supplement a gyro or souvlaki bought in a local eatery. |
| Not including program expenses, about how much money did you spend on food and other expenses each week? | € 150 |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Buy in bulk and plan meals ahead. I was running quite a bit in Greece and found it easy for myself to buy rice and meat at the beginning of the week and save it in the fridge. Also go to the farmer's markets, whether in Pangrati or elsewhere. They provide the best bang-for-your-buck and it's a great opportunity to meet locals as well. |
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 |
I was enrolled in a beginner modern Greek course, so our teacher, Stella, was always encouraging us to use Greek outside of the classroom. Whether we were ordering coffee or traveling to Greek islands or somewhere around the world and we met Greek speakers, Stella wanted us to use it as much as we could. |
| 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? | Intermediate |
| What was the highest level language course you had completed prior to departure? | Beginner Ancient Greek I and II |
| How many hours per day did you use the language? | |
| Do you have any tips/advice on the best ways to practice the language for future study abroad participants? | Use the language when you're buying food and in museums/international spaces. I find it's easier to use Greek when there are people you can reasonably assume know English, in case you slip up or something gets lost in translation. It's a good way to ease you into using the language in contexts where English is not available. |
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 about how valuable it would be to make local connections in Greece. I met great people, but I think I could've done more to form relationships with Greek people. |
