Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

Studying abroad in Athens, Greece has been an amazing, once in a lifetime experience. I never thought I would have the opportunity to see and do so much. Athens has been such an opportunity to get out of my comfort zone and give up control. It was a hard adjustment to be in a place where you don’t know the language or even the alphabet. The first couple of times I went grocery shopping were a surprising challenge. Most everything is in Greek (in hindsight this shouldn’t have been a surprise) and the whole experience was different from what I was used to. The people have all been so nice though, and many know English. Most people I've met are genuinely good people who just want to help. I had to get okay with feeling uncertain early on and that has been one of the main things that I will take away from this time. I have also learned to go with the flow in a way that I was never forced to in the US. In traveling plans change and things go wrong. I had to adapt quickly and without getting stressed about the changes.  

While studying in Athens I have had the opportunity to go to Vienna, Budapest, Rome, Venice, Belgrade, and more, with plans to go island hopping in Greece as it gets warmer. I have loved the accessibility of traveling while in Europe, and the ability to see so many places and cultures. My favorite parts are definitely the food and the architecture. It has also been amazing to take classes that Lake Forest doesn’t offer such as “Intro to Archaeology” and “History of the Roman Empire”. I am getting to see and experience things that have been outside of my wildest dreams from celebrating my birthday by the Acropolis to seeing the sunrise over a fortress from 279 BCE.   

I'm beyond grateful for the life lessons and memories I will carry with me from getting to study abroad. The biggest advice I would give to anyone thinking about studying abroad is to remove any expectations you have and go with the flow. Let the experience surprise you, frustrate you, and change you. It can be challenging at times but is so beyond worth it. I am so thankful for this once in a lifetime opportunity that I will never forget! I would additionally like to thank the donors of the Ingrid H. and George L. Speros Scholarship for Study Abroad. Thanks to your generosity I have been able to make the most out of this once in a lifetime experience!  

 Parthenon in Athens: