Based on your experience with CYA, what are some of the benefits of spending a semester or summer abroad? How has studying abroad contributed to your personal, academic, and professional development?

As a classics major, I wasn't sure what I wanted to focus on in the field. By taking the Strangeness of Ancient Greece course, I learned that I want to study more than just history. Through the Interconnections in Bronze Age Aegean course, I realized that I enjoy studying material culture but that archaeology is not my passion. CYA has helped narrow my path to focus on literature, which my history and archaeology background supplement. CYA also strengthened my desire to become a high school Latin teacher! Studying abroad was the best way to explore ALL of the major sites and see the works that I studied in my art history course at Grinnell. It's different seeing the sites and artworks in person than on a screen. I also became more independent! I wasn't really interested in going to bars late at night, so I did my own thing and explored the city.

What advice do you have for prospective students who are interested in or planning to study abroad with CYA?

Studying abroad in Greece can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. Cooking for yourself is much cheaper and groceries are readily accessible, especially at farmers' markets. Food and drinking is a big part of the social experience though. For the summer sessions, we have a lot of free time to go do things and explore. I would recommend using it fully. I hiked a lot and even hiked the entire length of Santorini! Try to apply for funding from your schools and budget more than you think you will need. If you're a person of color, people are much bolder about asking questions and vocalizing assumptions here than in America.

please select any of the following that apply to you, and that you would be willing to share about your CYA experience with other students:

LGBTQ student, Student of color, Accessibility Services, Finances while abroad, Student athlete, Mental health while abroad

Briefly describe a cultural experience you had that was significant to you in any way.

I was at the farmers market in Kerameikos. A seller was trying to get my attention by shouting Greek and then Chinese greetings. I'm not Chinese and that would definitely enrage me in the US, but I didn't know what to think there. I've gotten a lot of questions asking if I'm from China, but I'm American. I wasn't expecting this when I came to Greece, but I've definitely gotten a different perspective on identity here.

Favorite food in Greece?

Vegetarian Dolmas!

Favorite class you took at CYA?

Interconnections in Bronze Age Aegean