Laura’s Summer time in Athens, Greece  

6

Desperate to observe within the footsteps of a faculty scholar who studied overseas in Greece? We not too long ago caught up with Laura, a finance main from Grand Valley State College, who spent her summer season finding out overseas within the historic metropolis of Athens! 

Learn on to study extra about Laura’s expertise with AIFS Overseas and what it’s like finding out overseas in Athens, Greece. 

Deciding The place to Research Overseas 

It’s widespread for faculty college students to have problem deciding precisely the place to check overseas. Whereas AIFS Overseas provides dozens of wonderful locations, our program search instrument makes it straightforward to filter by educational curiosity, nation, and time period, so you could find a program that matches your preferences. As Laura had at all times heard optimistic issues about Greece and its lovely landscapes, Athens was a straightforward alternative: 

“I’ve at all times heard superb issues about Greece and the way lovely it’s. I might advocate this program to any college students who’re keen to place themselves on the market and check out new issues.” 

Making ready Household & Help Methods 

If in case you have relations who’ve combined emotions about you going overseas, offering them with extra details about AIFS Overseas packages can assist ease their worries. We encourage dad and mom to browse our web site and attend AIFS Overseas webinars. After they study our trusted on-site workers, secure housing, and 24/7 emergency help included in each program, they usually really feel far more assured in your resolution to check or intern overseas. 

One among her household’s greatest worries was having Laura fly to Athens alone. If you happen to select to buy tickets your self slightly than choosing the AIFS Overseas Journey Bundle (which incorporates round-trip flights and airport transfers), it is best to see if another college students from your house college are enrolled in the identical program, so you possibly can all fly collectively as Laura did: 

“I had been chatting with two different individuals who went to my house college, who had been additionally finding out overseas at ACG (The American School of Greece). We booked our flights collectively and had been capable of talk beforehand. This actually helped ease my household’s fear.” 

College Expertise 

Once you examine overseas, you acquire entry to an entire new academic expertise: professors who apply a neighborhood perspective to topic materials, worldwide college students from around the globe, location-based programs, and a campus that provides a novel educational and cultural surroundings. Laura attended The American School of Greece, which is situated about quarter-hour from town middle, permitting her to understand the change of surroundings after a brief commute: “We had been in a really Greek city, which was cool. The campus was additionally very fairly.” 

Laura took two programs throughout her summer season program in Athens, which, as she mentioned, had been made up of about “50/50 examine overseas college students and Greek college students,” offering alternatives to satisfy locals and different college students from around the globe. 

Journeys and Excursions 

AIFS Overseas packages embody journeys and excursions that provide immersive experiences in your host nation, serving to you deepen your understanding of the native tradition and historical past, all whilst you have enjoyable together with your fellow members. As Laura notes, her excursions throughout her summer season examine overseas program in Greece took her round a few of the native islands and past to Italy: “The excursions had been nice!… We went to Italy and some different Greek islands!” 

Making Pals Overseas 

Along with journeys and excursions, AIFS Overseas packages embody social and cultural actions that assist members bond and additional immerse themselves within the tradition of their host metropolis. Past these built-in occasions, you’ll be capable to join with locals throughout your on a regular basis life and expertise the full of life vitality the Greeks are recognized for. Laura discovered the folks in Athens particularly welcoming and wanting to strike up dialog: “[My] social life was nice! Everybody may be very pleasant and likes speaking to People.” 

If you happen to’re nervous about making buddies overseas, that’s completely regular! Fortuitously, everybody in your program will likely be in the identical boat as you, and as Laura found, slightly effort can go a great distance. If you wish to make buddies, Laura recommends that you just “put your self on the market and don’t be afraid to start out a dialog!” 

Tasting the Native Delicacies 

For a lot of college students, some of the enjoyable perks of finding out overseas is attending to style your method by means of your host nation. And Laura was no exception; she emphasised how she “liked the meals!” Considering again on her first evening in Athens, the scrumptious meals stands out in Laura’s reminiscence; she mentioned that she’s going to “always remember the primary evening after we went out to dinner and tasted the meals for the primary time.” 

The truth is, the native delicacies made such an impression that she“tried to prepare dinner extra Greek-inspired meals as soon as house.” Appears her semester in Athens actually pita new spin on studying! 

AIFS Overseas Assets 

AIFS Overseas packages embody trusted on-site assist workers who’re there to help you with absolutely anything—whether or not you need suggestions for native eating places that may accommodate your dietary restrictions otherwise you’re locked out of your housing and don’t know what to do (to call only a couple!). As Laura found throughout her program with AIFS Overseas, assist was by no means far-off: 

“The assets, whereas I used to be there, actually stood out. I at all times felt like I used to be in communication and had somebody to speak to if wanted… Our [Program Director] helped us lots.” 

Research Overseas Recommendation from Laura 

Trying again on her expertise, Laura encourages future examine overseas college students to embrace new connections and step past their consolation zone: 

“Don’t be afraid to place your self on the market. Typically the folks you suppose you don’t have anything in widespread with find yourself being the folks you possibly can speak to for hours!” 

Are you able to take the leap and examine overseas like Laura did in Athens? We’d love that can assist you begin your journey! 

Right here at AIFS Overseas, we all know a factor or two about serving to school college students examine overseas. Our packages are filled with useful inclusions (which actually take the stress out of planning!), comparable to housing, journeys and excursions, cultural and social actions, complete insurance coverage, 24/7 emergency assist, on-site workers, and extra. Once you select AIFS Overseas, you possibly can go overseas with confidence figuring out you’ll have assist all through your complete expertise.