Creative Writing Study Abroad Programs in Greece

This program is one that I will never forget, not just because of the opportunities I had to learn and grow both personally and culturally, but also because of the people I met. You come into this program as one person and leave as a completely different one. One thing that makes Webster Athens special is how tight knit the community is. I loved being a part of a program where the staff and students got along so well and genuinely supported one another. The apartments are in a great location, with very easy access to stores and the metro. The program also includes excursions to several locations around Greece, like Delphi, Nafplio, Epidaurus, etc., and I highly recommend not missing these getaways. They are an amazing way to see more of the country alongside your fellow study abroad peers and these short trips were certainly a highlight for me.

This was my second study abroad program, and I speak so highly of this program whenever I get the chance. A great community, living situation, kind staff, and you really dive into the Greek experience with guidance from Dina and the other mentors! Best 4 months ever, I met some of my best friends here and still talk to them to this day.

My semester abroad with Webster in Greece was a shared odyssey with my wife, Paola, made extraordinary by Dina, our activities coordinator. Her blend of Greek hospitality and skill didn’t just schedule events—she built a bridge to the soul of the country. With Paola by my side, Dina’s activities became our social heartbeat. From awe at Meteora to fumbling with filo dough in cooking class, we explored as a team. Dina transformed strangers into a community, mixing iconic sights with authentic local gems we’d never have found alone. Living there as a couple gave us unique stability. Paola turned a solo study journey into a “we” adventure, with a home base to process everything together. We left with more than credits: a deep appreciation for Greece, international friends, and a treasure trove of shared memories. The program provided the framework, Dina the heartbeat, and Paola the shared soul.

During my summer term in Athens, I checked off so many things on my bucket list. I loved the school, my instructors, and the city itself more than I ever expected. Studying abroad was something I always thought about, but I never knew if I would actually go through with it. I am so glad I did. I learned so much about Greek life and culture through my classes and all the experiences we shared. Our group for Summer 1 became so close. We cooked dinner together, figured out public transportation, and even flew to London. Since being home, I’ve already flown to visit two of the friends I made there, and we’re hoping to get the whole group together soon. I’ll never forget our last day of classes when we took a group photo with one of our instructors and all cried real tears. Seeing the iconic parts of Greece was incredible, but actually living there was the cherry on top. We didn’t feel like tourists. We walked to class and the grocery store, learned the trams, ferries, and all the public transportation quickly, and ate traditional Greek food almost every day. I felt less like a visitor and more like part of the community. When I came back to the US, I had a completely new level of self confidence. Our motto there was “I can do anything,” and I still repeat that to myself now. Greece was a special time, and the Odyssey in Athens program will always hold a special place in my heart.

I have been to quite a few countries, but there is nowhere quite like Greece. I had an incredible time meeting the people and I wouldn’t have been able to do that with out Webster. They were so welcoming thank you!!

During my time in Athens, I got to see a ton of different historical landmarks, and it was very interesting to hear the stories behind everything as well. If I could go back and do it again I would 100%.

I was hesitant to study abroad but immediately felt comfortable and at home in Athens! Class was manageable and enjoyable, but being able to explore the city in my free time was incredible. I loved the sense of independence I had being so far from home. All the instructors and coordinators were very helpful when I needed anything, but also gave excellent recommendations and advice. I loved the trips that were coordinated through the program. I definitely recommend Odyssey in Athens, or any other study abroad opportunity. You won't regret it!

I was a Kent State University student who studied abroad in January 2024-May 2024. I have never even been out of the country before then. This was one of the best and most memorable experiences of my entire life. I think about Greece and studying abroad every single day still. It will be 2 years next month since I went and nothing will compare to my life there. In my living space, I was partnered with 2 random girls who quickly became my best friends. Still till this day, we visit each other in America from Ohio, Illinois, and Missouri. Studying abroad was the best thing I ever did for myself and I wouldn't change a single thing about it.

This trip brought a new experience filled with cultural learnings that i had never known capable of experiencing. This program allowed to be immersed in the culture while also being taught from firsthand experience about the topics being taught in class.

I had the chance to not only immerse myself into a new culture but also try to learn the language. I loved going to syntagma for walks to the snack stands and being able to travel throughout all of Europe allowing myself to visit 7 countries while still staying in Greece most of the weekends.

I had the most fun during CIS Abroad's Summer in Greece program! It included both excursions from CIS and from the university, the American College of Greece. Greece is beautiful and the area surrounding the college is safe and takes less than one hour to get to downtown Athens by metro or bus. There is so much to do in Greece - outside of the included excursions, I would recommend going to an island or doing a guided tour, and there are so many options for these! The program's staff were always extremely helpful and supportive, as well as my professors. The grading system was different than what I'm used to as someone from the U.S., as your final grade is usually split between two exams or projects, although I didn't find it too bad. Overall, I would recommend this program, especially if you love islands/beaches and history!

During my 4 months abroad in Greece, I was immersed in the culture, traveled the world, met lifelong friends, tried wonderful food, and gained a good education that will help me later on in my career. I was able to gain a global mindset, which helped me grow so much personally and will follow me throughout my future career. I genuinely had the best time abroad and would do it again in a heartbeat.

I studied abroad with CIS in Athens, Greece in the Fall of 2024 for a semester. The opportunities I was met with were life changing and I am so grateful for all of the people who made my trip a possibility. Meeting new people was easy because of the residential dorms as well as the welcome dinner that gave us all the opportunity to mingle with each other and meet like-minded others. I was unsure of what to expect from Greece, since I had only really seen movie depictions of it in my past. Some of my favorite experiences from the trip were the CIS excursions, especially the one traveling to see the Meteora of Kalabaka and Kastraki which is not something that would have been on my radar without the influence of CIS. Of course I had to see some of the most notable places like the Parthenon, Acropolis, and the Oracle of Delphi, but my favorite places to travel to during the trip were the islands that were only a short of Kea, Hydra, Agistri, and Aegina that were only a short ferry ride from the port in Athens. There are endless possibilities for adventures in this program and I would recommend anyone who wants to have an incredible adventure to take action and get involved with CIS!

Alexa and Adria were amazing all semester they were the best RAs. Although it was a little annoying not having any curtains upon arriving I had no shower curtain no toilet paper and no curtain on my balcony so I had to go out and buy all of that after a extremely long travel day

During my time abroad, I was able to fully immerse myself in the culture of Greece and see many different islands with the help of Academic Programs International (API) and Hellenic American University. My program through API made the process enjoyable and easy to navigate. With excursions in the program, traveling was made easy. In addition, the program lead showed students around the city and even some favorite local spots. She became a mentor to me while abroad and made Greece feel like a home away from home. Overall, my experience with API and Hellenic American University was nothing short of amazing and I would go again in a heartbeat!

I did the AHEPA Journey to Greece program, and it was amazing. My sister did this program 8 years ago, which is how I learned about it. This program helped me meet some amazing people. The Greek American community can be hard to unite because of all the different places we are from, so it was great to meet people I probably would've never met. Naxos was one of the best weekends of my life. There were things for everyone. The people who loved history went to explore a bunch of site, while the others explored the town we were staying in. Usually, when I go to Greece, I only see my family, so it was great to truly fall in love with Greece.

Everything about this program was amazing! All of the teachers and people working with the program were kind and excited to have us students here. The organized trips with the program, class schedule, and orientation provided helped us see and learn as much as possible in four weeks. Everything felt so personal and close, I wish I could've had more than four weeks!

Throughout the four-week program that I did, I met good friends and stayed in the center of Athens, Greece. The city and excursions were immersive and significant. Overall, the classes were a nice opportunity to meet more people, learn, and gain college credits.

I experienced a great deal of cultural immersion throughout my time in Greece. We went to so many places all across Greece, and this definitely made me feel like I was exposed to a great deal of art and culture.

Once in a lifetime opportunity I was very happy I was able to go and this was a very unforgettable experience. I made many new friends and got to experience the people and food of Athens and immerse myself in the culture.