What inspired you to travel abroad?
I am deeply in love with Greek islands, and I was looking for an opportunity to learn Greek while spending my holidays there. When I discovered a language program right on the island I held close to my heart (Paros), I immediately got in touch with the school to join.
I also wanted to spend my summer holidays trying to do something new and useful for my personal development.
Why did you choose the Alexandria Institute?
I was looking for summer Greek language programs in the Greek islands. My favorite place is Paros, so I started to look for programs on that island, and that's how I found the Alexandria Institute.
I got in touch with the supervisor and asked for information about costs and duration of the program, and I had a very nice feeling. I then decided to attend the summer program and also to attend some private lessons as well.
What was your favorite part about Greece?
Paros is perfect for people who are looking at any kind of holidays: for those looking for fun and discos, as well as and for people who are looking for peace and rest. It is big enough to give you the opportunity to move around with no problems at all, but at the same time, you can change the scenery by moving around the villages, or through the countryside.
You can experience crowded beaches or places where you are almost alone; you can taste great food in the several tavernas located around the island, you can easily interact with local people who are so proud if tourists speak Greek, even if everyone speaks English well.
What made your experience abroad extraordinary?
Thanks to the experience I had with Alexandria Institute in summer 2017, I had the opportunity to finally visit the place I held close to my heart and in which I like to spend as much time as I can every year (Paros island), with the possibility to learn the language of the local people.
Going around shops and restaurants speaking like a local was a great reason to be proud of myself: I could reach the dream to feel like I'm a little bit Greek as well!
How did the local program staff support you throughout your program?
All the teachers and students who joined the Paros summer program with Alexandria Institute, stayed in the same hotel, sharing the spaces and the amenities, which made it easier to organize all the activities.
The teachers organized lessons in the morning and extra activities in the afternoon or evening, such as watching movies, dancing, dinner in restaurants, Greek food tastings, or cultural lectures. Of course, they were always available to solve any possible inconvenience.
What's one thing you wish you would have done differently during your time abroad?
I probably wouldn't change anything about my experience. When I first got back home, I thought that the only thing I would have changed would have been the hotel, as I would have preferred to stay in the one I usually go to when I do holidays in Paros on my own.
But sharing all the spaces with the other students and teachers (including the hotel) made everything easier and worth it for me, as I always had the opportunity to talk with someone in Greek, even outside the classroom. I was also able to join in all the extra activities, even the last minute ones.
Describe what a typical day in your life abroad looked like.
I woke up at 8/8:15 in the morning to have time for a proper breakfast, and then I was ready to start my lessons at 9 am. We had a couple of breaks during the morning, and we finished at 1 pm.
At that time you were free to do what you wanted. I usually followed my teachers and a couple of other students to the taverna on the beach for a light lunch, and then I went around the island with the car I rented.
I befriended another girl, so we went around together, choosing to stay a couple of hours at the beach, or visiting villages around the island, or just driving through the countryside which I really love.
At about 7 pm I was back at the hotel, and I ate dinner or joined the extra dinner activities (like movies) if there was something scheduled.
What did you enjoy doing in your free time abroad?
During my free time, I had the possibility to explore the island while talking the same language of local people. Initially, I felt a little bit embarrassed to speak Greek when I was around the island, as I was aware my language was not perfect and I made mistakes.
But day by day I understood that this improved my learning skills, and I tried to overcome my shyness, sharing my progress with everyone, like students, teachers, and local people I met during my free time.
What type of accommodation did you have? What did you like best about it?
I chose to stay in the same hotel where the morning lessons were held. It was comfortable as you woke up and you were immediately ready to start your program, without wasting time in driving or transferring yourself from a place to another one.
Having everyone in the same place makes it even easier to share the whole experience and organize extra activities.
Now that you're home, how has your time abroad impacted your life?
It made me understand I would have to continue studying Greek at home, and so I did. I probably would have never started to study Greek if I didn't learn about the Alexandria Institute summer program: I planned to start with private lessons just because I wanted to arrive at the summer program ready to speak a little bit, having the chance to develop my online skills with an on-site program.
If I hadn't read anything about summer courses in Greece, I would probably have waited to learn Greek until I had found another source of inspiration.
So, I can surely say that this experience changed the way I will spend all my future holidays in Greek islands, but maybe changed my life as well, because in my future I see a portion of my life right in Greece... and speaking the language could be easier and more enjoyable.
What is one thing every future participant should know about your program before their program begins?
I think you should be aware of your exact target: if you start a language program on-site from the very beginning, you can't pretend to speak the language at the end of the two weeks.
In two weeks you can begin to understand if you work hard, so be ready to start a full and complete learning program.
But if you wish to speak a little bit of the language before coming, you should take some classes before arriving (like private lessons). Only in this way can you arrive at your summer course having the ability to speak a little bit and test your skills.
I would rather consider this kind of program as a developmental program instead of a pure beginner program.
Would you recommend the Alexandria Institute to others? Why?
I would definitely recommend an experience abroad, as it's a nice way to spend your holidays in a lovely place, while testing your everyday skills. You will have fun while learning something new in a peaceful and relaxed environment.
This was not my very first experience abroad because I started during school, and I'm sure it won't be the last one.
I really appreciated the variety of all the people who attended the program, both students and teachers: we were diverse in age (with young and older participants), backgrounds, and motivations.
What do you feel the biggest benefit of traveling abroad is?
The very first thing I appreciate is the opportunity to immediately test all your capabilities while talking to local people around the city/place. There's no better opportunity to delve deeper into the local culture than by talking in the local language.
What does meaningful travel mean to you?
In general, a meaningful experience is a way to enrich my personal background, making me develop different skills and making me get in touch with hidden parts of myself I didn't know before. Something is meaningful when it gives you knowledge but also experiences, feelings, and good memories.
