Meet Mary McLoughlin! She is a rising senior at the College of Wooster studying classics and history. This past week I chatted with Mary about her work at Archaeopolis, “a pioneering hub of Ancient Greek events that provides experiences that portray life in Ancient Greece.” Archaeopolis is known to produce movies, host Ancient Greek catering sessions using ancient recipes, hold Ancient Greek days with arts, clothes, and recreations, and make a ton of their own swords, clothes, ceramics, and instruments — all in Ancient Greek style! Back in February, students from CYA visited Archaeopolis for an ancient music workshop. From then on, Mary was hooked.

Hidden among the beige apartment buildings of Fokianou Street lies FokiaNou Art Space. This unsuspecting gallery exists within the intimacy of a small apartment in an old building, and it is located only a block away from CYA’s Academic Center. As you travel the seven flights up to the gallery, you will be greeted by a decorative stairway, and when you reach the gallery, you will receive a friendly ‘hello’ from Mary Cox, the director of the space.

This semester, CYA Executive Director of Student Affairs, Nadia Meliniotis, secured me an internship at the gallery, where I help to prepare the space for opening and closing. This past week, Mary and I got together to talk in a bit more depth about the gallery’s history and her role as director.

During this semester, CYA student Asa Berolzheimer volunteers as an English tutor for Falaq, one of the teenage boys living at the shelter for unaccompanied minors run by The Home Project.

Studying abroad in Greece provides students a plethora of sites, views, and places to visit. CYA organizes three field trips a semester to different regions of Greece. However, there’s much more to see beyond those field trips. Previously, we compiled a list of must-see Greek islands, now we’ve asked CYA students, faculty and staff for their favorite places to visit in mainland Greece.

During my time here in Greece, I’m taking a beginning modern Greek class, MGKL 101. I had very little knowledge of modern Greek before arriving in Athens, so I was excited, but nervous, as learning new languages doesn’t come easily to me.

Our Greek professor, Marinetta Papahimona, encourages us to go out and practice our Greek: “While many people you will meet in Athens want to practice their English, you should stress that you want to practice your Greek.”

Just a few blocks from CYA, a farmer’s market, or λαϊκή, takes place on Archimidous street every Friday. Since CYA students do not have classes on Fridays, it’s an excellent time to get fresh fruit and vegetables for the week. I went to the market with the aim to practice my Greek and made a short video about some helpful Greek phrases that I use a lot at the market. Enjoy!

There is a cat that tries to sneak into the front entrance of my apartment every time I come home. I end my days late at night so I never notice this black mass scurry past me, following the light, warm glow inside my Athens apartment. I long to be like this cat because he can simply jump over fences and roam streets indefinitely, glorying in a freedom that I also desire to experience.

Of course, sometimes it is easier to spend time with the people you have been selected to room with. This is fine and my roommates are lovely, but I have recently been craving interactions with Athenians beyond simple “hellos” and “goodbyes” at supermarkets.

And sometimes the best moments happen when you push yourself to do things alone…