Some of the best 4 months of my life! July 19, 2024
By Nicole M (Fairfield University) - abroad from 01/22/2024 to 05/18/2024 with
CYA (College Year in Athens) - Semester/Academic Year Program
I really grew as a person and I learned a lot about myself and gained lots of independence and courage. I also got to learn so much about different cultures and meet so many new people that will forever have an impact on my life. It was 100% worthwhile
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. |
I loved almost every course I took! They were a great mix of challenging and easy to understand. There were a few that didn’t seem as organized as they could be. But overall I feel like I learned a lot! |
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* Host Country Program Administration
On-site administration of your program |
Everything was amazing! I felt right at home and everyone at CYA was so welcoming and comforting! I loved all of the different trips and programs that were run and it really allowed me to immerse myself in the Greek life! |
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* Housing:
How satisfied were you with your living arrangements? |
The apartment was in a great location! It could use a few repairs and updates but overall was perfect for what we needed. |
| * Food: |
There were lots of good options for lunch at CYA and it also allowed me to try lots of different traditional Greek food! |
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* Social & Cultural Integration:
How integrated did you feel with the local culture? |
I feel like I interested quite well. I wish I would have learnt more Greek but it didn’t impact my experience that much because everyone was so kinda and spoke English. |
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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
I would chose CYA again and again! And I would recommend it to anyone! I love the way the program is run! Being able to go on the field studies really provides us with the opportunity to see so much of Greece! CYA is so welcoming and helpful and really makes your time abroad an amazing time! |
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? | Each week I spent between $50-100 depending on where I shopped and whether or not I got groceries or ate out. It was totally manageable though and could have probably spent less if I was more mindful. |
| Do you have any general money-saving tips for future study abroad participants? | Have a grocery list and stick to it! Find the cheapest grocery store close to you and ALWAYS take advantage of shopping at the farmers markets. |
Language
| * Did your program have a foreign language component? | No |
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 more Greek! |
