Home and Away: The Greek-American Student Experience at CYA
[Article by CYA Fall ’24 student and CYA MediaLab intern, Soussana Kimbouris]
When I was deciding where to study abroad, Greece offered a unique opportunity that no other place could — the chance to fully immerse myself in my own heritage. Growing up among my Greek family in the US, the Greek language and culture surrounded me. I was able to understand a lot of the language but struggled with speaking it, creating a difficult language barrier with many family members. About a month and a half into studying abroad in Greece, I planned to spend the weekend with my family. For the first time, I was able to communicate with them and felt like they got to know me — and I got to know them. This rewarding moment showcased my progress in my journey of learning the Greek language and made me want to share what it’s like for students like myself, who are of Greek heritage studying at CYA. Specifically, I want to reflect on our language journeys — how learning Greek and using it here has enhanced not only our fluency but also our understanding of who we are.
With both sides of my family coming from Greece, growing up in the United States meant balancing two cultures. My parents spoke Greek to each other at home, I went to Greek language classes at my church, learned traditional dances, and grew up eating Greek food. I was baptized in Greece and visited when I was a young child but didn’t return until I was a teenager, over 13 years later. I will always remember pulling up to my father’s childhood home at 2 in the morning and seeing my grandmother run out of her house to greet us in tears. Her home was filled with picture frames of me and my sisters — her love for us was evident even though we were thousands of miles apart. This memory is a special one; however, it comes with complicated feelings because it was then that I quickly realized the stark language barrier between me and my family. After that summer, my desire to continue learning the Greek language grew, so that the next time I came to Greece, I could communicate with my family. I was quick to take advantage of CYA’s modern Greek language courses. My class consisted of only four other students, all of whom shared Greek heritage and similar gaps in their Greek language abilities. We all became quite close throughout the semester, bonding over shared experiences and the same goal. I interviewed two of them to give a more rounded perspective on language progression at CYA and how it has furthered our Greek identities as a whole.
When filling out rooming requests, in the additional notes section I wrote, “Someone who is Greek like me!!” I’m not sure if CYA took my comment into account or if I just got lucky, but they paired me with Julia, who not only became a roommate and friend but also a peer in my Greek language class. Her grandparents were born and lived in Greece. She shared that her decision to study in Greece was driven by a desire to reconnect with her grandparents’ roots. “Being in Greece,” she said, “is a way to connect to the lives and childhoods of my grandparents, who are no longer alive.” She was also familiar with the neighborhood of Pangrati (where CYA is located), as her relatives had coincidentally once lived there. Both of her parents speak fluent Greek; however, before CYA, she only knew a basic level of the language, being able to understand just simple, everyday conversations. Now, with only a month left of the semester, she feels her Greek has improved drastically. She credits much of her progress to our professor, Angeliki Anagnostopoulou. Julia shared how every class is something she looks forward to and how thankful she is for the warm and welcoming environment our professor creates. When talking about Angeliki, she said, “She is so accommodating and adapts to all the differences we have — as we all come from different backgrounds — and she knows that we all need different things.” She shared with me how she has tried to assimilate into Greek culture by speaking as much Greek as she can, no matter her language skills. She noted how the locals are so understanding, friendly, and open to your learning. I think it’s fair to say that she holds me accountable for speaking Greek whenever we’re out and about — something that pushes us both to improve.
Eros, another friend and peer I spoke with, decided to study in Greece because of cultural ties as well. In his own words, “I came because I already had a preexisting connection to the land and wanted to understand what modern Greece is really like, beyond the romanticized image I had growing up.” Eros grew up speaking Greek fluently at home; however, he never received a formal education in the language, which sometimes made him feel a sense of insecurity. Now he feels much more confident in his speaking abilities, saying that the class has helped him lay a strong foundation in the Greek language. He credits our professor for this as well, explaining, “Angeliki is not just a teacher — she genuinely cares about our success, and she makes us feel comfortable enough to take risks with the language.” He is passionate about trying to assimilate into Greek culture — going to church, visiting local cafes, and interacting with locals as much as possible. With the opportunity to study here, Eros believes he has been able to broaden his understanding of what it truly means to be Greek, deepening his connection to his heritage while allowing him to better navigate the nuances of his identity.
Growing up, I sometimes felt out of place with my American friends; yet at the same time, when I came to Greece, I didn’t feel like I fit in either. When people were surprised to learn I was Greek, it made me feel even more uncertain about my identity and how I was perceived. I asked Julia her thoughts on her own Greek identity and how it has changed since being here. She noted how, while she was always proud of where she came from, she now feels a lot more connected to her heritage after being in Greece — and that having friends who are in the same boat as her has made her feel more validated within her own identity. The way she phrased this deeply resonated with me. For Eros, he expressed how being in Greece has given him more confidence in answering the question of what it is to be Greek, shaping his understanding of his own identity. I think for me, being able to advance my language skills and further assimilate into the country that I feel so connected to has taught me a lot about myself — it has made me more confident in my Greek identity.
I think being a Greek-American student at CYA is a truly unique and rewarding experience. Unlike your American peers, you come in with prior knowledge about the country you are studying abroad in, and you have the opportunity to explore your heritage, furthering your own personal identity. To finish off this piece, I want to end with some advice to prospective Greek-American students from Eros, Julia, and myself. In Eros’ words, “You have the advantage of being able to bridge the gap between Greek and American cultures. Use this opportunity not only to learn the language but also to really understand the nuances of Greek culture that can’t be taught in the U.S. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes with your Greek. In the long run, it’s the only way you’ll improve.” Julia expresses, “Put yourself out there, make mistakes, and you’ll improve your Greek. Don’t be afraid to feel uncomfortable because that’s how you’ll learn.” As for me, I’d say to meet as many people as you can — both CYA students and locals outside of CYA. Athens is such a big city, so explore other neighborhoods and seek out new places to fully immerse yourself!
[This article was written by CYA Fall ’24 student and CYA MediaLab intern, Soussana Kimbouris.]
