Expansive Past Review

Academic rigor, intensity, resources, etc.

We were given reading material prior to departure but upon arriving the strongest learning material was to be found on foot: walked and lived through! Each day was full of experiential discovery through ruins, preserved sites, museums, and modern-day cultural immersion.

On-site administration of your program

Study Abroad Association did a phenomenal job of hosting and guiding us. They both managed the logistics and became genuine friends.

How satisfied were you with your living arrangements?

Perfectly satisfied. I always had a nice room with amicable roommates. I noticed that when others' situations weren't so favorable, our guide Leo did everything in his power to provide improved accommodations. In Mykonos, the hotel housing the majority of our group did not have enough space to accommodate us all, so my two roommates and I were given a gorgeous room in Villa Pinelopi in the heart of Mykonos Town. This was entirely pedestrian area: a ten minute stroll to our group's main hotel. We gathered for group meals and shared excursions; we never felt isolated from the others. Rather, we felt supported by each other and closer to life on the island. Personally I feel very grateful that after our initial tour, we were trusted with the challenge of orientation and direction because navigating the labyrinthine streets was a thrill and it strengthened my confidence a thousandfold.

The food was fantastic. Our shared lunches and dinners were often the highlight of my day. Meals varied: sometimes it would be family style dining and we would all try the same cuisine and other times we'd have personal choice from a menu. Our professors chose excellent restaurants, most often with entertainment and live music. We also had plenty of opportunity to split into smaller groups and pursue our own culinary cravings.

How integrated did you feel with the local culture?

I felt very at ease amongst locals. Sometimes I'd feel strange about my touristic involvement, but that feeling sparked critical reflection on commercial tourism as a global, social and historical phenomenon.

How well were health issues addressed during the program?

Our professors and guides truly did the most to ensure our safety without forfeiting our freedom to explore. We were given opportunity to experience with immediacy and autonomy the rich and lively streets of Athens and Mykonos. We moved with a buddy or in small groups, apart from a designated path or plan. This may have been the most questionable safety-issue, but we maintained vigilance and common sense. We honed our skills of navigating by finding notable landmarks (parthenon, agora, etc) and orienting ourselves accordingly. I'm very grateful for the extent of trust and independence we were given because I was able to encounter Greece in sincere and exciting ways.

It struck the perfect balance with me; it gave me enough guidance and enough freedom, information and open-endedness, challenge and leisure.

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

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• Hotel
• Hostel

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• Local Students

Select all that apply

• Local Students

• Study Abroad Association's guides
• shared meals
• the ferry

• more time at excursion sites