By Maddi Brenner

An absurd contradiction between dreams and reality

Throughout this past week, I’ve struggled and also made peace with the busy and hectic challenges as a student studying abroad because I am so new to this. I’m bombarded with wrong turns, language barriers, a constant state of tiredness and an abundant amount of stares and stress. I recognize my strong American accent, see the comfort I’ve spent 20 years living with back in the states pulled away at the seams and notice the extra hint of flavor that makes Athens so rich with life. Here’s a recap and what I’ve learned during week 1.

By Alyssa Tayrien

Pre-Departure – How to prepare for study abroad in Greece

Here I stand, “on the precipice of a great adventure that will be [my] life.” –John Bonet

One day, I told my parents that I wanted to study abroad in Greece. They replied that the economic downfall and political turmoil made for a potentially unsafe semester, and can’t I choose somewhere else? I agreed to look into other options, and a bit later, came back with a potential research opportunity off the coast of Turkey… So here I am, with a plane ticket to Athens, Greece. It seems a shift in perspective can do wonders, can’t it? And this shift in perspective is just what I hope to gain during my semester abroad at the College Year in Athens (CYA).