How did you get connected with the American College of Thessaloniki?
After my own study abroad experience I knew that I wanted to use my professional life to connect others to the amazing experiences available around the world- especially in study abroad. I worked in high-end travel for a year and a half before I finally had the chance to interview at ACT where I expressed my passion for connecting students with life changing cultural experiences. My desire to bring students to these experiences fit in perfectly with ACT’s ability to offer a unique and exciting experience to students and I have loved being a part of the small Greek family of faculty and staff ever since.
The best part of being a coordinator is reconnecting with students on their home campuses, here is Arden at Michigan State with some of the ACT ambassadors, all former study abroad students.
What makes the American College of Thessaloniki unique?
The American college of Thessaloniki is a small school in a big student city by the water with a diverse student population due to the accreditation status of the school. ACT is not accredited in Greece but we are accredited in the US and the UK which makes this the ideal place to join for some or all of one’s international study experiences. This means that students from over 45 countries make up our campus population leading to class discussions which can never be reimagined outside of the multi-cultural environment at ACT. Couple our international campus with the renowned faculty and staff and small campus size, and it is easy to understand why ACT feels like home to students from all over the world.
Why is Greece an extraordinary place to study abroad?
Students from all over the world choose to study in Greece for a variety of reasons from the central location allowing access to western Europe, to the world’s best beaches and of course, the rich history and culture of the region, it is easy to imagine why studying in Greece offers an experience like no other. Thessaloniki is an especially extraordinary place for students to experience life in a new culture because of the vast student life which allows students to communicate in English while having a place in the local Greek community as one of the 100,000 students studying in the city.
How do you help ensure students have a safe, fun, and meaningful time in Greece?
Thessaloniki is an extremely safe city so much of my conversations in pre-departure revolve around the typical city experience and how to stay safe while traveling around Europe. Many students come to us with a bucket list of experiences around Europe that they feel are most important so we try to foster these experiences by allowing a few breaks to make space in the student’s schedules to travel occasionally however we encourage all students to keep the travel outside of Greece to a minimum as there is so much more to discover where they are. In order to give students the best Greek experience, our activities office plans optional trips all over the country, offers cultural experiences such as cooking and dance lessons, and arranges local dinners to show off the hospitality of the Greek culture.
Arden’s favorite optional trip for ACT is the monasteries of Meteora set high on cliffs in the mountains of Northern Greece.
What is the most frequent issue that students experience? How do you help them overcome it (or any challenges for that matter)?
Most students have issues with the Visa process as it can be long, tedious and pretty confusing. Each Greek consulate works slightly differently allowing for student’s to realize their first cultural lessons before even going abroad as they learn to be flexible within the Greek bureaucratic systems. Getting through the Visa process with students requires conversations about what to expect and helping the students to let go of the idea that everything must be perfect in the first Visa appointment that they make. Being willing to go in with everything you have and understanding that you may have to take a second shot- rather at the consulate with a Visa appointment, or in life, is one of the first lessons our students learn from the Greek culture before they even leave for Greece.
What supplemental activities and events can students participate in while attending ACT?
Being a small institution with a 50% study abroad population means that the opportunities available for visiting students are abundant. Students are invited to participate in any of our 17 student clubs including a spot in the Student Government and the ability to compete with any of our varsity sports teams. In addition to the on campus activities, ACT arranges trips to Athens and Delphi and the Royal Tombs of Vergina along with a large number of optional trips including sailing, Meteora, and a climb of Mount Olympus.
Thessaloniki boasts a 3 mile boardwalk which houses many monuments and art installations including the impressive umbrellas that Arden is holding here.
Why do you think international experience is valuable to students in the world today?
International experience is both valuable and necessary for students today to gain exposure to cultures, ideas and knowledge outside of their comfort zone. The more people explore each others cultures, the closer we will come to peace and understanding as we learn to empathize with those who are different and begin to understand where the ideas around the world may come from. This exposure to each other through international experiences brings about conversations that expand individual thinking and knowledge while adding in a positive way to the world’s society.
What is your best piece of advice for students considering study abroad in Greece?
For those thinking of going abroad in general, never let what is happening back home stop you from having this experience- all of your problems and all of the good things can be put on while you are in college but you likely won’t ever have that chance again when you graduate. For those going to Greece in particular, practice letting go of the imperfections because this will be one of the biggest lessons you learn while you are abroad. If you are able to come in with an open mind and the idea that you will be able to let go of old habits- this will make growing and learning from your time abroad even easier.
No trip to Greece is complete without a stop in Delphi to learn about the oracle!
What do you love most about your job?
The best part of my job is meeting the students once they have gone abroad and hearing about how much the experience has impacted them on a personal level. I love getting to know the students from around the US while they are in Greece and returning to their schools each semester to continue to hear how those changes they made in Greece have impacted their lives and their futures is the most rewarding part of my career.
