I would not be exaggerating when I say that studying abroad and the 7 months I spent out of the US has changed my life - I miss it every day. I got to experience a completely new way of life and meet people I would have never met. I felt out of my comfort zone in the beginning, not understanding the language, having to get used to the cultural differences, etc. However, as the semester went on, I feel I really grew as a person and became more independent, learning the ins and outs of living in a foreign city. The independent travel I did over the spring and summer also impacted me greatly and gave me a confidence I had not felt before. I had planned trips before studying abroad, but on a much smaller scale and to places that felt more familiar. I had to navigate foreign websites, purchase flights, coordinate schedules, etc. which are valuable life skills especially if I want to continue to work/study abroad.
Getting to see sites in person that I had studied in class was truly an inexplicable experience. It really deepened my understanding of ancient Athens as an Ancient World Studies major to be on-site and feel the history of the city. Instead of just spending a few hours or a day at a site like I would on vacation, I had the opportunity to engage deeply with the history and objects. I also got to see how different museums operated and how it differed from museums in the US which I feel gives me a unique perspective that could be useful for a career in museums.
I had the opportunity to intern at the British School at Athens where I researched an archaeological excavation from the 19th century. This experience developed my research skills and showed me what it was like to work in a foreign country with a different work culture/type of people which I why I feel it was very beneficial. The skills I learned navigating this work environment will aid me in my career, especially since I am looking into opportunities abroad.
My excavation provided me with valuable experience working hands-on with objects which will be vital for art conservation, a career field I am pursuing. I learned so much about archaeology and it was truly a wonderful experience!

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

My main piece of advice is that the first few weeks are going to be scary, but explore as much as you can, even if you have to do it alone. Safety is the first priority, but if it is possible, explore the city by yourself and don't limit yourself to Pangrati. This is not to say do everything alone, but I sometimes limited my exploration if I could not find people to come with me to certain places in the early months. I feel I could have done so much more if I did not hold myself back in this way.
I would also really recommend taking advantage of the resources provided by CYA and participate in their events, especially early on in the semester, because you can meet a lot of people this way and immerse yourself in the city. For example, I did a marble carving workshop where I met some great people and came home with a wonderful souvenir.
There is a lot more advice to give depending on the student and what they are trying to get out of their experience, but overall I would say don't compare yourself to what others are doing because you will get something out of studying abroad even if it is different from those around you. Many people I know traveled every weekend to places all around Europe. As much as I would have loved to do that, I wanted to prioritize my time in Greece/Athens because it is what I studied and had the most interest in. In the beginning, I felt I should have been doing more and traveling like these people, but now I am grateful that I spent so much time exploring the nooks and crannies of the ancient Athenian areas. In the end, make the most of your experience even if you have to go out of your comfort zone and don't compare the way you spend your time abroad to others!

Please select any of the following identities/experiences/backgrounds/perspectives you would be comfortable sharing about with prospective CYAers:

Classical Studies major, Dietary restrictions, Greece-based traveler, Internship.

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

There were so many experiences in Greece that were truly wonderful and significant to me. One in particular was celebrating Clean Monday with my friends. Clean Monday is the first day of lent in Eastern Orthodox Christianity and a national holiday in Greece where we had off from classes. My friends and I bought some kites to fly, mine was a large falcon, following the Greek tradition/celebration. It was that day I learned I was not very good at flying kites, but it definitely led to much laughter and brought me closer to my friends and Greek culture. We closed off a fantastic, adventure-filled day with a seafood feast near the beach (though if you are planning on following suit, definitely make a reservation in advance!).

What is your favorite Greek food?

It’s way too hard to choose my favorite Greek food, but some top choices would have to be spanakopita, keftedes, and pork gyros!

What extracurricular activities were you involved with in Greece?

I did an independent research internship at the British School at Athens. I worked at the BSA twice a week researching an early excavation on an Ancient Athenian gymnasium. I also participated in the marble carving workshop which was such an amazing experience. I met a lot of nice people and went home with a very unique souvenir.