Yassas! This is Greek for hello! My name is Caroline. I’m a second semester junior and I’m abroad! This semester, I am studying in Athens, Greece with a program called College Year in Athens (CYA). I’ll be sharing my experiences this semester as I try to eat as many gyros as possible, learn how to order my morning coffee in Greek, and avoid getting hit by crazy Athenian drivers.
Last fall, my good friend Devin studied abroad in Spain, and decided to characterize her semester by always saying “yes” to new situations. Like Devin, I’ve decided I also want to embrace life to the fullest while I’m abroad. I want each day to be an adventure. Whether the adventure is hiking to the top of the Acropolis before my afternoon class, or booking a last-minute weekend trip to Vienna, I am trying to see as much and do as much as possible.
I’ve been in Athens for about a week and a half, and so far, and I am absolutely loving it. A couple things fell into place during our orientation week at CYA. First, to my great relief, I met my roommates and liked them immediately. Second, the CYA staff was incredibly welcoming. Third, I encountered real Greek food! Most importantly, I found myself awed and amazed by new surroundings every single day, and excited to wake up each morning to explore more of Athens.
It’s an interesting time to be living in Greece; Greece is not only undergoing major political changes, but also suffering from a financial crisis on par with the Great Depression of the 1930s. However, I’ll keep my fingers crossed for this country I’ve quickly grown to love, and keep watching and waiting with the Greeks.
Let the adventures begin!