Those familiar with the early days of CYA may remember that homestays were a trademark of CYA at its infancy.

The homestay program was revived in Fall 2014,and—thanks to the careful work of Nadia, our wonderful Director of Student Affairs—it has been a huge success! The homestay experience is meant not simply as an alternative to our CYA apartments; it is an enrichment of the study abroad experience, an immersion to Greek culture and the Greek family lifestyle, and an opportunity to gain life-long relationships and a second home halfway across the world.
Each semester, Nadia matches three to four students who have indicated an interest in the program with a host family with complimentary interests, lifestyles, or hobbies. Connor North (pictured below with his host family) was matched with a family in Fall 2015, and he left us with a shining review of his homestay experience. He writes, of his Greek family, “They’re a wonderful, exceptionally welcoming family, who did everything in their power to make me feel welcome . . . My host family became my family over the course of the semester.” The benefits of choosing homestay? According to Connor, “I accomplished everything that I wanted to when I decided to do a homestay: namely, I got to experience a bigger slice of Greece!!”
Our host families have proven, in true Greek fashion, to be warm and gracious hosts, and homestay students have left Greece feeling connected to and familiar with the country’s culture and people. We are proud to offer this opportunity again, and we are hopeful that the program will continue to be a success!