Study Abroad and Domestic Study Away

Studying abroad in Athens, Greece at the American College of Greece these past four months has been such an unbelievable adventure. I have had a wonderful time exploring Athens, learning the Greek language, and immersing myself in the Greek culture while making many new friends and meeting so many incredible people. Initially, I was nervous and slightly overwhelmed with having to navigate around a new city in a country that I had never visited before. But after only one week of living in Agia Paraskevi, the neighborhood where the American College of Greece is located, I was accustomed to my new environment and I had found local grocery stores, cafés, and bakeries that I would frequent regularly.

            A great aspect of studying abroad was the excursions that were organized by the school. The first excursion that I went on was a downtown tour of Athens that led us around the historic neighborhoods of Plaka and Monastiraki which are overlooked by the Acropolis. They even taught us how to use the subway system in Athens, which became very useful when I utilized it to explore the Acropolis and Parthenon the very next day. My favorite excursion from the school was the trip to Nafplion, where we were taken to the Palamidi Fortress which overlooked the city. We were then brought down to the city and had a meal with traditional Greek cuisine that included spanakopita, moussaka, tzatziki, souvlaki, dolma, and other delicious eats. I journeyed to other parts of Greece which only grew my admiration and appreciation of this stunning country, including Patras during its Carnival celebration and Mykonos.

            Studying in Athens and traveling around Europe has had a profound impact on me. It has enhanced my problem-solving skills, tested my flexibility and adaptability, and cultivated a curiosity that I hadn’t experienced before. It has taught me not to fear but to embrace the unknown and have an open mind for every new adventure.