Miss Lorelei Blau, based on your experience with CYA, what are some of the benefits of spending a semester or summer abroad? How has studying abroad contributed to your personal, academic, and professional development?

Spending Term 4 abroad with CYA expanded my world view and improved my interpersonal skills. I loved meeting other CYA students, from my school and from others, because we came from diverse backgrounds, but still connected over our experiences thus far at CYA. I recognized CYA students around the city and in Attica, and felt connected in the city despite not speaking Greek or being a local. Even while experiencing language barriers while navigating public transportation, you weren't alone in the endeavor because CYA students were there to help. Making these connections was helpful in Greece, and it will be so fun to see CYA alumnus on campus next year. I loved the housing that CYA provided; living alone in an apartment with friends gave us a real sense of independence that developed our budget skills, cleaning skills, and people skills. Experiencing Greece as a resident, not a tourist, improved my global citizenship and my communication skills as I learned to navigate the city and tour the many ancient sites. I also developed study skills and time management skills - because I planned so much socially, my academics had to be timely, and the skills I learned in my classes will stick with me.

What advice do you have for prospective students who are interested in or planning to study abroad with CYA?

I would highly recommend learning some basic phrases in Greek to help with transportation and navigation! Also, take every opportunity you have to explore - go to the islands, make spontaneous trips, don't pass up an adventure. The spontaneous trips and even the transportation mistakes I made (I ended up on the wrong island) are my best memories from Greece. Have fun!

Please select any of the following that apply to you, and that you would be willing to share about your CYA experience with other students:

LGBTQ student

Briefly describe a cultural experience you had that was significant to you in any way.

I visited Klio's Honey Farm at Olympia and was shocked at the hospitality and generosity of Klio and her family, despite visiting during COVID-19. They were welcoming and gave us a private tour of the honey facility, explained at detail how they made the honey, and treated us to samples of honey along with homemade pastries. They were so excited to see us and made us feel right at home. That experience of the famed Greek hospitality was heartwarming.

Favorite food in Greece?

The pork souvlaki from Elvis is to die for.

Favorite class you took at CYA?

Art & Archaeology with Robert Pitt was my favorite class! We saw so many archaeological sites that I wouldn't have experienced otherwise.