As a Classics and History double major, studying abroad with CYA was a bit like a dream come true. It was a way to both further pursue the fields I want to go into, getting first-hand experiences of various sites, and also a way to gain cultural awareness by living in another country for an extended period of time. I absolutely adored my time at CYA because I feel it has definitely grown my love for History of all kinds by granting me memories of actually standing in the sites I have thus far only seen in textbooks. My semester abroad also helped me gain new-found confidence in myself and my independence. I have always been an independent person, but moving to a new country without any friends or family nearby was still a bit of a leap—but one which has definitely benefited me in the long run.

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

1. Start applying for your student VISA as soon as you can–begin by making sure you have all of the documents you need because there are a lot.

2. Begin taking some kind of modern Greek online course if you have no familiarity with the language–it is not essential to get by, but it certainly enhances your experience.

3. Plan at least one other trip to another country–it is definitely worth your while.

One thing I wish I knew before coming is that you should only buy a few things at a time from the grocery store. You never know if you will be getting dinner with friends or going on another trip so food in the fridge can quickly be forgotten and go bad

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:

Classical Studies major, First-time international traveler, Greece-based traveler

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

The first time I went into a store and was able to complete the transaction in Greek. Before my time abroad, I had only really studied dead languages and so it was a super cool experience to be able to actually go out and speak a new language in public

Favorite food in Greece?

Moussaka!

Favorite class you took at CYA?

Ancient Greek 101 with Eleni Fassa

Favorite quote from abroad?

What extracurricular activities were you involved with in Greece?

I interned with the City of Athens Museum and took my HIST 357: Roman Greece class at the 400 level. Other than that, I spent most of my time traveling, studying, going to the Alterlife gym, and playing violin.